Saint Joseph Hospital & Good Samaritan Hospital
Neonatal Intensive Care Units
(NICU)

 

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The Journey to Taking Your Baby Home on Oxygen

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CLEAR AWAY CLUTTER:

• Your baby will be attached to a long cord of tubing to maintain the stream of oxygen flow from the tank. To ensure a safe walking environment, it is best to keep floors empty of unnecessary tripping hazards.

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CREATE A CARE AREA:

• Your baby will be attached to an oxygen tank.  It will be safe and convenient to set aside space on each level of your living area to care for your infant, and have everything you need nearby. This way you will avoid running back and forth with supplies.  Once you are planning to stay on one level of your home with the infant, then you can attach the baby to the designated tank in that area.

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NOTIFY AUTHORITIES:

• It is a good idea to let the fire department know there are oxygen tanks in your home. Oxygen is extremely flammable and they can be more prepared to respond in the event of an emergency. In addition, the electric company should be aware of the fact that a family member is oxygen dependent, and in the event of a power outage, your home will bea priority to restore service. If financial issues exist, please contact a social worker prior to your infant coming home. They may be able to arrange for assistance in keeping your electric bill current.

 

REMOVE FLAMMABLE PRODUCTS:

• Oxygen burns easily. Candles, matches, pipes, cigars, any type of cigarette and fireplace should not be used in a home where supplemental oxygen is in use. In addition, petroleum jelly (Vaseline) should not be used on the face of anyone using oxygen, as it can easily catch fire.

 

PROTECT YOUR BABY:

• Any infant requiring home oxygen has weak and/or underdeveloped lungs.  Smoking and second hand smoke should never be allowed around your infant, or in your home or car. If you are in a public setting and smoke is nearby, remove your baby from the area. 

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LEARN TO TROUBLESHOOT:

• Adhesive disks should be placed on the temples (lower sides of forehead, next to eyes) NOT on the cheeks. This placement will help keep the cannula prongs in the infant’s nose. This will help decrease anxiety of the family and frustrating readjustment issues.

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• If your infant does not seem to have a nice pink color around the lips and mouth at rest or while eating (oral cyanosis) make sure there are no kinks in the tubing. Follow the tubing trail from your baby’s cannula in the nose, to the oxygen source on the tank.  Check to make sure settings on the tank are correct and that the tank is not empty.  ALWAYS keep a tank key handy and near the tank so that you can use the key to make sure the meter is wide open on the tank, allowing for optimal flow.

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• If all of the above have been checked and your infant remains without pink lips and tongue, increase the amount of oxygen you are delivering to the baby up to the next notch. If cyanosis (blue color) persists for more than 2 minutes call 911 or your baby’s doctor.

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TANK STORAGE AT HOME:

• If your baby will be on more than one level at home, the oxygen company will provide you with a large tank for each floor. Your infant should only be switched between tanks when he/she will be in a certain area of the home for long periods of time. The smaller, travel tanks, that have a strap and can be easily carried, are only for use away from home, as they have a much lower oxygen storage capacity and will run out of oxygen sooner than the large tanks. TRAVEL TANKS SHOULD ALWAYS BE STORED ON THEIR SIDE, whether in the car or at home.

 

TRAVEL OUTSIDE OF THE ROUTINE:

• Always consult with your infant’s doctor before traveling outside of normal activities with your infant.  For example, the mountains and certain parts of Colorado are at higher elevations than Denver, and your infant may require a higher amount of oxygen in these areas.

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• In addition, it is a good idea to notify the oxygen company of plans to travel prior to leaving so all tanks can be filled and checked, spares provided, and extra supplies obtained. Also, be sure to bring the contact number for the oxygen company with you when you travel so you can get in touch with them if anything is needed while you are away from home.

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• If you are using public transportation (i.e. planes, trains, etc.) you should notify them when you buy the tickets in case they need to have any paperwork filled out by a doctor, or there are any special restrictions.