Medical Oxygen’s Critical Role in Emergency Care
It should come as no surprise that the World Health Organization includes oxygen on its essential medicines list. After all, everyone needs the gas to live.
But there’s a lot more to it than that. Without a steady stream of high-purity medical-grade oxygen, intensive care units and emergency rooms across the world would collapse, research would be severely affected, and thousands of lives would be lost.
Supplying oxygen is thus a big responsibility. It’s a task that nexAir doesn’t take lightly. Here’s how our oxygen supplies help emergency care providers Forge Forward.
Oxygen Prevents Hypoxia Â
One study found that 34% of patients who enter an ambulance require immediate oxygen. This is mostly to prevent hypoxia, a dangerous condition that occurs when oxygen is lacking in the body’s tissues and cells.Â
There are several causes of hypoxia, many of which are medical conditions that require immediate assistance. This includes cardiac arrests, trauma, acute respiratory conditions, and more.
Hypoxia is a life-threatening condition in itself. Its symptoms include confusion, restlessness, difficulty breathing, a rise in heart rate, and “blueing” of the skin. Administering oxygen at the right time and with the required purity levels can prevent all these symptoms from worsening.Â
However, the method of administration and the gas flow are also crucial in determining outcomes. Too much oxygen leads to a condition called hypoxemia which damages the lungs, heart, and brain.Â
Oxygen Treats Respiratory IllnessesÂ
Four years ago, a respiratory illness left us all locked indoors while boosting the demand for oxygen across the world. Without a steady stream of the gas, many patients suffering from breathlessness as a result of COVID-19 would have lost their lives.Â
Similarly, oxygen treats several respiratory illnesses that require immediate intervention, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. Moreover, WHO suggests that 20% to 40% of the 800,000 pneumonia-related deaths every year could be prevented with oxygen therapy.Â
Oxygen therapy is also often used by chronically ill patients at home to prevent medical emergencies.
Oxygen Used in Emergency SurgeriesÂ
Medical oxygen is also a crucial component of surgery. It is used to deliver anesthesia, which is employed in a wide range of procedures. During the actual surgery, oxygen supports respiration and ensures the body continues to function even under anesthesia. Once the procedure is complete, the gas comes in handy once again—this time to assist with physical recovery.
Finally, medical-grade oxygen accelerates the healing process, allowing our bodies to bounce back after invasive experiences such as surgery.
As you’d imagine, it’s exceptionally crucial for doctors to ensure that their oxygen delivery mechanisms function properly. The gas must meet appropriate purity levels while the flow should be controlled.Â
Breathe Easy With nexAir’s Medical-Grade Oxygen
Supplying medical-grade oxygen is where nexAir comes in. As one of the leading suppliers of gases across the Southeast, our team understands the dangers of even the smallest mistakes when it comes to emergency interventions.Â
Since the 1940s, we’ve applied our KnowHow to ensure that our medical oxygen meets the highest standards of safety and purity, that doctors have access to the life-saving gas through various delivery mechanisms, and that contamination doesn’t happen at any stage.
For medical oxygen supplies you can trust, browse the nexAir store.
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