How to Survive With an Air Respirator

If you are in an emergency situation and you or someone that you are administering first aid to needs an air or oxygen (O2) respirator, there are a few basic tips on how to use the device safely. Many organizations require an official training course before being able to administer their O2 system. Therefore, consult your employer before using a respirator or O2 system if administering first aid.

Things You'll Need

• Cell phone

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Instructions

• 1

  Evaluate the scene for safety if you are in an emergency or first aid situation. Even before administering the air respirator, if the scene is not safe, the air respirator itself will not do you much good in terms of survival. Make sure that basic safety is established and that someone is calling emergency services by dialing 911.

• 2

  Check for the patient's ABC's (airway, breathing, circulation). Also make sure the patient does not have an obstructed airway and that they are able to breathe. Tilt their head back, looking for any obstructions in their airway. Watch, listen and feel for signs of breathing, such as a rising and falling chest. Also check for signs of blood loss along the length of their bodies.

• 3

  Turn on the air respirator by turning the valve located at the top of the O2 bottle and apply the mask to the patient. If you are in an emergency situation yourself and O2 is available, administer O2 to yourself before others. This will ensure that you are safe as the rescuer before trying to help others survive.

• 4

  Breathe normally and continue to watch for the pressure indicator to drop on the O2 tank regulator valve. Once the pressure indicator is pointing to the red line, you should discontinue use of the O2 tank and find another tank. It is good to gather your resources of O2 tanks so you do not have to search for more O2 tanks at the last minute.

• 5

  Monitor continuously for other environmental hazards that could threaten your survival. Remember that the oxygen in your O2 tank is highly flammable and combustable, meaning that sparks, fires or sudden impacts on your air respirator tank could lead to an explosion.