Oil based creams and ointments – Safety advice

We advise our oxygen patients not to use oil or petroleum based gels or creams on any part of their skin whilst using their oxygen supply.

This advice is taken from the EIGA (European Industrial Gases Association) guidelines for medical oxygen systems for homecare supply. The full set of guidelines can be found on > www.eiga.eu

These guidelines advise against using any oil or petroleum based products on the skin as these products can burn in an oxygen enriched environment with explosive violence. This accelerated burning or ignition can occur if the oxygen equipment has been contaminated with oil or grease. This contamination can occur if:

The equipment has been handled by hands that have been contaminated with petroleum jelly or grease.
Any hand or face creams containing petroleum based ingredients have been used on any area oxygen can enrich.

We advise and instruct patients:

Not to use any creams or ointments that contain petroleum based ingredients
If a moisturiser or cream is required to prevent patients nostrils drying out whilst using their oxygen supply then only water based creams (such as KY Jelly) should be used.