A LABORATORY ASSESSMENT OF OXYGEN DELIVERY FROM A PORTABLE CHEMICAL GENERATOR

A simple portable chemical oxygen generator was tested in the laborato ry. The device is designed for use by the public as an oxygen supply u ntil an emergency team arrives with appropriate oxygen cylinders. The generator was found to supply a mean (SD) flow of oxygen of 3.6 (0.01) l.min(-1) for 12.5 (range 12.4-12.6) min. The mean (SD) total volume of oxygen produced was 47 (0.17) l. The supplied oxygen mask was a var iable performance type with the problems and limitations inherent in t his design; an oxygen flow of 8 l.min(-1) is required to provide 40% o xygen and most of tile oxygen is wasted and not available to the patie nt. This poses a serious limitation to any device which has a limited capability (in flow and/or total volume) for producing oxygen.