(light piano music)
[Narrator] In situations of advanced illness,
the health care provider may order oxygen
if the person is having trouble breathing,
or is experiencing shortness of breath.
As with all procedures,
wash your hands before and after providing care.
Oxygen is usually administered by nasal prongs.
(indistinct chatter)
To apply nasal prongs,
first place the prongs in the person's nostrils.
Loop each side of the tubing behind the person's ears
and then tighten under the chin.
Check the skin where the nasal prongs rest,
as well as under the chin and behind the ears.
Once the nasal prongs are in place,
it's important to ensure the tubing isn't kinked,
or hooked on anything.
Then turn the knob on the flow meter
until a little ball marks the flow rate that was ordered.
It's important to note that oxygen is like a medication
and must be ordered by the healthcare provider.
Depending on where you live,
there will be different processes and specific suppliers
who set up the equipment in the home.
There should be no smoking, no flames,
and no flammable items nearby when oxygen is being used,
it is highly combustible.
Oxygen flow can be drying,
so it's important to maintain good mouth care
and apply moisturizer to nostrils and lips.
Use only water-based products.
Petroleum-based products
are drying as well as flammable.
See the caregiver video help with mouth care
for further details.
(light piano music)