Safe Use of Medical Electrical Equipment at Home

Before you bring equipment home

Get a prescription and written instructions from the doctor for any oxygen, suction or nebuliser, including settings and hours of use. Buy or rent from a reputable supplier who provides a maintained device, clear instructions and a number that works at night; see medical device licences and safe buying and equipment to rent vs buy checklist. Get hands-on training from the supplier or a nurse, for every person who will use it, and keep the manual by the device. Ask a qualified electrician to confirm that the circuit, socket and earthing are suitable.

Electrical safety basics

• Use proper earthed (three-pin) sockets and plugs, in good condition. Do not use damaged, cracked or loose plugs and sockets, and do not force a plug into a socket.
• Avoid extension boards and multi-plugs for high-load devices. If you must use one, choose a good quality, correctly rated, one with a switch and protection, plug only a limited number of devices, never daisy-chain, and never run it under a carpet or bed.
• Keep cables tidy and out of walkways, secured along walls, to avoid tripping and damage. Do not run cables under rugs or doors.
• Never touch electrical equipment with wet hands, and keep devices away from water, wet floors, basins, kitchens and bathrooms. Do not use portable electrical devices in the bathroom unless designed for it.
• Check regularly for warning signs: warm or discoloured plugs, a burning smell, buzzing, sparks, flickering lights or a tripping circuit breaker. Switch off, unplug if safe and call an electrician or the supplier.
• Install a good quality circuit breaker or residual current device as advised by an electrician, which can cut power if there is a fault.
• Voltage fluctuations are common in some areas; a voltage stabiliser or surge protection may be recommended by the supplier or electrician for certain devices. Follow their advice.
• Keep ventilation around devices such as concentrators, which need clear space to cool, away from curtains, walls and bedding.
• Do not repair equipment yourself. Use the supplier or a qualified technician.
• Keep children and confused adults away from equipment, and secure it so that it cannot be switched off or tampered with accidentally.

Oxygen safety

Oxygen does not burn by itself, but it makes anything that burns, burn much faster and fiercely. Oxygen-enriched air can make clothing, bedding, hair and skin products catch fire.

• Use oxygen only as prescribed, at the flow rate and for the hours the doctor has set. Never change the flow or use it for someone else; see home oxygen therapy tips for your senior parents in india.
• No smoking, no flames, no sparks in the room or near the oxygen. This includes cigarettes, bidis, matches, candles, incense, diyas, camphor, mosquito coils, gas stoves and lighters. Put up "No smoking, no flames" signs. Tell visitors.
• Keep oxygen at least two metres (about six feet) away from open flames, gas stoves, heaters, geysers, electrical heaters, kerosene lamps and other heat sources, or the distance the supplier advises; see safe use of heaters and geysers.
• Avoid oil-based and flammable products on the face, chest and hands, near oxygen: petroleum jelly, oily creams, hair oils, alcohol-based sanitisers, aerosol sprays and perfumes. Use water-based products as advised. Do not use oil or grease on the equipment.
• Avoid synthetic materials and static, and keep the area free of clutter, paper, cloth and cooking fumes.
• Place the oxygen concentrator on a flat, stable surface, in a well-ventilated area, not in a small closed room, near curtains or against a wall.
• Cylinders: secure upright in a stand or chained to a wall, so they cannot fall; keep away from heat, sun and flames; handle valves gently; never drop or roll; never use oil on valves; close the valve fully when not in use; store in a cool, ventilated place; have them refilled and checked by authorised suppliers; and use only the regulator and tubing supplied. Know the supplier's emergency contact number. See oxygen cylinder safety and how to use oxygen cylinder at home for covid patients.
• Tubing: use the right length, avoid kinks, keep it out of walkways and replace as advised; tripping on tubing is a common cause of falls.
• Humidifier bottles: clean and refill with the water recommended, as instructed.
• Do not leave a person who is confused or restless with an oxygen mask or tubing unattended without a plan.
• Know the fire plan: if there is a fire, turn off the oxygen supply if you can do so safely, get the person out and call 112. Know the exits, and keep a fire extinguisher suitable for home use if advised.
• Pulse oximeters help, but have limits and can mislead; do not adjust oxygen based on a reading alone without medical advice; see pulse oximeter guide, pulse oximeter accuracy limits and when oxygen saturation is low.

See oxygen concentrator buying guide, oxygen concentrator safe use at home and travelling with oxygen.

Power cuts and backup

Power cuts are routine in many places and can be dangerous for dependent patients.

• Ask the doctor which equipment is essential for life or safety and which can pause.
• Know the backup plan for each device, such as a battery or inverter that can run a concentrator for a specified time, a spare filled cylinder, a manual option or an arrangement with a hospital.
• Check the capacity of any inverter or UPS with the supplier or electrician, since some are not suitable for medical devices, and some cannot support a concentrator for long. Do not guess.
• Keep spare batteries charged, test backup regularly and keep fuel for any generator in a safe, ventilated place outside the living area. Never run generators indoors, because of fire and carbon monoxide risk.
• Alerts: ask your electricity provider about notification of planned cuts. If a patient depends on power, ask whether the utility has a priority customer register.
• Have a second emergency plan: when the backup fails, whom to call, where to go, how you will move the person, and the nearest hospital with power.
• Keep emergency lighting and torches charged.
• Pressure mattresses and electric beds may stop working or deflate during a cut; know how to use the manual release and how to position the patient safely; see hospital bed electricity and power cuts and oxygen and power cuts.
• Protect equipment from surges when power returns, for example by switching off at the socket during outages.

Beds, mattresses and other devices

• Electric beds: keep cables clear of moving parts and wheels, lock the wheels and teach carers the controls; see hospital bed at home guide and setting up a hospital bed at home.
• Alternating-pressure mattresses: check the pump runs and tubes are not kinked; see air mattress for pressure sores.
• Nebulisers and suction machines: clean after each use as instructed and never use near water; see how to use a nebuliser.
• Heating pads, hot water bottles and heaters: a major cause of burns in older people with reduced sensation; use only as advised, never on numb skin and never with oxygen; see safe use of heaters and geysers.
• Kettles and chargers: consider auto-off devices for people who forget; use original chargers and never charge under pillows; see kitchen safety for older adults.

Cleaning and maintenance

Follow the manufacturer's and supplier's schedule for filters, tubing, masks, humidifiers and water chambers; see infection control for home caregivers. Switch off and unplug before cleaning and never wet electrical parts. Keep a log of cleaning, filter changes, servicing and faults; see care diary and handover notes and equipment returns, warranty and servicing. Report faults at once, and do not keep using a faulty device; have a backup.

Everyday habits that prevent accidents

Walk through the room as a carer would at night, looking for cables, tubing, wet floors and steps. Keep a clear, dry, ventilated space around beds and devices, switch off appliances not in use and never overload sockets or use damaged leads. Teach all carers the basics and write the steps down; see training a new attendant: the first week. Do a monthly check of plugs, leads, sockets, smoke alarm and extinguisher; see monthly home safety check.

When something goes wrong

If equipment stops or an alarm sounds, check power, connections and tubing, switch to backup as instructed and call the supplier; if the person is breathless or unwell, call 112. After an electric shock, do not touch the person while still in contact with the source; switch off at the mains, then call 112. In a fire, get everyone out, switch off power and oxygen only if safe, call 112 and do not go back in. For a burn, cool with clean running water for 20 minutes and seek care; see wound care at home for older adults. If you smell gas, ventilate, avoid flames and switches, evacuate and call for help.

When to ask a professional

The doctor prescribes oxygen and sets the plan. The supplier or technician installs, trains and services the device. A qualified electrician checks wiring and backup. A nurse or physiotherapist teaches use. The fire service can advise on home fire safety in your area. For senior citizens' information and support, Elderline 14567 is a helpline; check current availability. In an emergency, call 112.