years ago I was told never to use vasoline on anyone who is using oxygen because vasoline is flameable. Is that true?
2006-07-16 16:30:07 · 9 answers · asked by Sunshine 3 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ First Aid
some answers are nearly correct.
oxygen is niether combustible or flammable. what it does is support combustion. for instance if you hold a cigarette near a flow of oxygen the cigarette will burst into flame. don't do this unless you really no how to do it. i always exhibited this to college students in class studying respiratory therapy.
next oxygen and oil chemically react creating heat and can even cause fire. vaseline is a petrolatum substance (made from refined oil). patients who use nasal oxygen or any other delivery source to the mouth or nose should not use vaseline to relieve irritation. the vaseline can react with the oxygen and cause skin to become sorely irritated. i have had more than a few cases of patients who were using vaseline and or similar products on their nose while wearing oxygen and they broke out into severe infection like rashes. it doesnt happen to all oxygen users but the reaction is real.
also look at lables on various gels, if they contain vaseline or oily substances then dont use them with the oxygen. its not going to cause a big fire, or explode but the contraindications are real.
2006-07-17 15:43:48 · answer #1 · answered by gmillioni 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, at least in theory it is true. One would need to heat Vaseline to 365 degrees Fahrenheit to ignite it. The melting point is approximately 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The pure oxygen given to the patient has the greatest potential for accidental ignition.
Vaseline is a petroleum byproduct containing a purified mixture of semisolid hydrocarbons. When crude oil goes through the refining process, a paste accumulates. The paste has almost no odor, no taste, and is close to colorless. The process separates the paste and removes it. Once removed, the paste undergoes a purification-process becoming petrolatum, also known as petroleum jelly.
Good luck!!
Will D
Enterprise AL
2006-07-16 23:52:03 · answer #2 · answered by Will D 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is a very good chance that the Vasoline (a petroleum product) will burst into flame when in contact with concentrated oxygen levels.
2006-07-16 23:35:39 · answer #3 · answered by Mark 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oxygen is flammable. If the only reason not to use Vasoline is because it's flammable go ahead and use it. The problem with someone on O2 is that the extra oxygen will make it easier to start fires.
Keep fire away from them.
2006-07-16 23:35:19 · answer #4 · answered by mindwolf 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
we have used vasoline with oxygen on patients before, to moisten the skin under their nose. then again, these patients arent typically on high flow oxygen, only like 2 L/minute, so its pretty low dose. if youre concerned about flammability, use saline spray to keep the nose moist instead of vaseline.
2006-07-16 23:50:06 · answer #5 · answered by stascia 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Vaseline and oxygen do not mix. Vaseline is oil-based and any oil based product does not mix with highly flammable oxygen. To lubricate a dry nose put humidity/water on the oxygen and use water-based lubricant around the nose.
2006-07-16 23:53:32 · answer #6 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Let's see...mixing fuel and oxygen. All you need is an ignition source and POOF. Flambe`.
2006-07-16 23:33:30 · answer #7 · answered by oldmoose2 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What the hell is vasoline.
2006-07-16 23:34:29 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
true
2006-07-19 21:53:36 · answer #9 · answered by jeff s 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋