How to Connect Moisture Tubing to Oxygen Tubing

Connecting a moisture system to someone on continuous oxygen will provide them with some comfort. This person may be a hospitalized patient or at home, but in either case, oxygen therapy can be quite uncomfortable. If you have never had to wear an oxygen device, put yourself in front of a fan and allow it to blow air into your nose and mouth. The mucous lining of your nose and mouth will soon dry out, as it does for anyone taking oxygen therapy. Attempting to make someone comfortable while having to wear oxygen by attaching moisture tubing is the least that should be done for them.

Things You'll Need

• Liter flow meter
• Moisture bottle
• Oxygen cannula or mask

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Instructions

• 1

  Look at the oxygen flow meter and note the liter flow setting. Turn the oxygen off at the flow meter. Firmly grasp the oxygen tubing, and pull it off the connection nipple.

• 2

  Grasp the connection nut at the top of the nipple and turn it clockwise to remove it from the flow meter.

• 3

  Inspect the threads of the flow meter for dirt or debris, and wipe them accordingly.

• 4

  Remove the moisture bottle from its packaging, and inspect the threads of the attachment nut. Remove any excess plastic from the manufacturing process that may still be attached.

• 5

  Hold the moisture bottle in the palm of one hand, and position it at the connection to the liter flow meter. With your other hand, turning in a counter-clockwise direction, screw the moisture bottle connecting nut onto the flow meter.

• 6

  Remove the cap from the connection nipple by twisting it between your thumb and index finger.

• 7

  Press the oxygen tubing onto the connection nipple on the moisture bottle.

• 8

  Place the oxygen cannula or mask back on the patient, if it was removed during this procedure.

• 9

  Turn the flow meter up to the setting it was on prior to turning it off. The water in the bottle will begin to bubble, and the patient will receive humidified oxygen.