Wednesday February, 25 2026 @ 07:11

Nature: Medical Emergency

City: Captains Grant

 

On Wednesday morning, February 25th, the Indian River Volunteer Fire Company was alerted to assist the Mid Sussex Rescue Squad with a landing zone assignment in the Captains Grant development off of Oak Orchard Road.  Additional emergency alerts included Sussex County Paramedics, the Delaware State Police Aviation Unit – Trooper 2, the Delaware State Fire Marshal and the Delaware State Fire Police. 

Emergency response units from Indian River included Rescue 80 from the Oak Orchard facility and Brush 80 and Squad 80 from the Long Neck facility as well as the Delaware State Fire Police.

The landing zone assignment was cancelled as all aviation units were down due to weather.

All fire company emergency response apparatus were requested to the incident location to assist with extrication of the patient from the residence to the ambulance.

Cautionary Message:

Smoking while using oxygen is extremely dangerous and has severe, potentially fatal, fire and burn risks. Oxygen is not flammable itself, but it is a powerful oxidizer, meaning it causes materials to ignite more easily and burn much hotter and faster.

Dangers and Risks

Intense Fires: In an oxygen-rich environment, even a small spark from a match, lighter, or electrical device can cause a fire to erupt instantly with a "blow torch effect".

Severe Burns: Fires often result in severe, deep facial and airway burns, often requiring hospitalization, intubation, skin grafts, and extensive recovery. A significant number of these fires result in death.

Oxygen Saturation: Oxygen can linger on hair, skin, clothing, and furniture, remaining a fire hazard even after the oxygen flow is turned off.

E-Cigarettes & Vaping: The heating elements and batteries in e-cigarettes also pose a fire risk and should not be used around oxygen for the same reasons as traditional cigarettes.

Equipment Damage: Smoke can contaminate and damage oxygen equipment, potentially voiding the manufacturer's warranty.

Safety Guidelines

Healthcare providers and fire safety experts strongly advise against smoking while using or near oxygen equipment. Key safety precautions include:

• Never Smoke Indoors: Do not smoke inside a home where supplemental oxygen is used.

• Turn Off Oxygen: If you must smoke, turn off the oxygen supply, remove the nasal cannula, and wait at least 10 minutes for the concentrated oxygen to dissipate from your body and clothing before going outside to smoke.

• Maintain Distance: Keep all ignition sources (cigarettes, matches, lighters, electric razors, hair dryers, etc.) and open flames at least 10 feet (about 3 meters) away from the oxygen equipment.

• Post Signs: Display "No Smoking - Oxygen in Use" signs in and outside your home to alert others to the danger.

• Use Water-Based Products: Avoid petroleum-based products (like petroleum jelly or oil-based lotions) and aerosol sprays (like hairspray) as they are highly flammable in an oxygen-rich environment.

• Install Alarms: Ensure you have working smoke alarms and a fire extinguisher readily available. Have a fire escape plan with at least two ways out of every room.

• Seek Support to Quit: The most effective way to eliminate this risk and improve your overall health is to quit smoking entirely. Resources are available from the American Lung Association and the NHS Quit Smoking service.