COLUMBUS, OH (CRAWFORD COUNTY NOW)—As temperatures fall, the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of State Fire Marshal (SFM) urges Ohioans using home oxygen therapy systems to take advantage of a life-saving piece of equipment. Thermal fuses, when installed on oxygen tubing, will stop the flow of oxygen once a fire is detected, quickly halting further spread.
Smoking while on oxygen is extremely dangerous. If oxygen tubing catches fire, the fire can travel quickly down the tubing, igniting everything in its path, including clothing, furniture, and carpet. An oxygen-rich environment can make flammable materials ignite faster and burn more rapidly, creating a dangerous situation, especially for those with mobility issues.
Smoking-related fires are the leading cause of fire fatalities in Ohio. Since 2022, 51 individuals in the state have died in fire-related incidents involving smoking, with most of these incidents resulting from smoking while on oxygen. According to the American Thoracic Society, more than 1.5 million Americans require home oxygen therapy.
SFM urges anyone on oxygen to never smoke and to stay away from open flames, such as gas stoves or candles. As an added precaution, SFM’s Fire Prevention Bureau recommends installing two thermal fuses on every oxygen line.
“We never want people to smoke while on oxygen because it is extremely dangerous,” said SFM Fire Prevention Bureau Chief Anita Metheny. “If someone’s oxygen system catches fire, not only can individuals suffer severe burns to their airway, but the fire can travel down the tubing and ignite practically everything around them, possibly resulting in a house fire. Thermal fuses have the potential to save your life should your oxygen tubing catch fire from any open flame source. Whether you smoke or not, if you are on oxygen, we strongly urge you to make sure these devices are installed on your home oxygen therapy system.”
There are multiple ways for Ohioans to obtain thermal fuses. Individuals prescribed oxygen should ask their oxygen companies to provide the items, or they can visit any medical supply company to learn where they can be purchased, often for less than $10 per fuse.
Individuals may also contact their local fire department to see if they have thermal fuses available free of charge. Through a program established in 2022, SFM works with many fire departments across the state to equip them with thermal fuses to install for Ohioans while out on calls. Fire departments not currently participating should contact their Fire Safety Educator from SFM’s Fire Prevention Bureau to learn how to enroll in the Thermal Fuse Program.
“Simply put, the best and safest option for individuals who use home oxygen is to avoid open flames altogether,” Metheny said. “However, just like a sprinkler system is able to automatically detect and extinguish a fire, these thermal fuses serve as a last line of defense for individuals who use oxygen, and they very well could mean the difference between life and death.”