Elderly passenger and oxygen

[Aztec Driver]

I have been promising my father a trip to a dinner destination for two years now, just never seem to get around to doing it. Recently his health has deteriorated and I would like to get him out before he can no longer do it. He was hospitalized recently and they determined he is not getting enough oxygen in his body, so they put him on oxygen. He hates using it, but that's a different story.
I am not concerned so much about the dangers of oxygen in the plane, as I believe that is minimal, but I am concerned about the altitude as pertains to his oxygen deprivation. Is this anything to be concerned about in the 3000-5000 foot range? He said his saturation levels are as low as 85%. I don't want to exacerbate his condition, but I would like to treat him to a nice flight before he can no longer enjoy it.

Any thoughts?

 

[gprellwitz]

My totally uninformed opinion is that if there is anyone around you willing to loan you a portable aviation oxygen unit, you should take them up on it. Don't know (well, know even less ) about a medical unit. Maybe Dr. Bruce could speak on that. I mean, it wouldn't be much of a ride if he fell asleep/passed out in the middle of it.

 

[Bob Noel]

I have been promising my father a trip to a dinner destination for two years now, just never seem to get around to doing it. Recently his health has deteriorated and I would like to get him out before he can no longer do it. He was hospitalized recently and they determined he is not getting enough oxygen in his body, so they put him on oxygen. He hates using it, but that's a different story.
I am not concerned so much about the dangers of oxygen in the plane, as I believe that is minimal, but I am concerned about the altitude as pertains to his oxygen deprivation. Is this anything to be concerned about in the 3000-5000 foot range? He said his saturation levels are as low as 85%. I don't want to exacerbate his condition, but I would like to treat him to a nice flight before he can no longer enjoy it.

Any thoughts?

When they put him on oxygen, didn't they give him any small tanks
for walking around?

My father was recently put on oxygen, he has an oxygen concentrater,
and two small bottles (1 holding about 4 hours, 1 holding about 6 hours).
A portable concentrater is available, but I don't think the insurance will pay for it for my Dad. Portables units seems to be very expensive to
buy, but can be rented for short periods of time.

 

[Aztec Driver]

When they put him on oxygen, didn't they give him any small tanks
for walking around?

My father was recently put on oxygen, he has an oxygen concentrater,
and two small bottles (1 holding about 4 hours, 1 holding about 6 hours).
A portable concentrater is available, but I don't think the insurance will pay for it for my Dad. Portables units seems to be very expensive to
buy, but can be rented for short periods of time.

Yes, he has one. I was just questioning its effectiveness at altitude.

 

[Ted]

I don't know anything about the standard medical O2 setups, only my personal O2 setup. I just turn up the flow if I'm not getting enough, and monitor it with my pulse oximeter. Bryon, you're welcome to borrow mine if you want, only catch is we'd have to figure out where to meet.

 

[murphey]

I have been promising my father a trip to a dinner destination for two years now, just never seem to get around to doing it. Recently his health has deteriorated and I would like to get him out before he can no longer do it. He was hospitalized recently and they determined he is not getting enough oxygen in his body, so they put him on oxygen. He hates using it, but that's a different story.
I am not concerned so much about the dangers of oxygen in the plane, as I believe that is minimal, but I am concerned about the altitude as pertains to his oxygen deprivation. Is this anything to be concerned about in the 3000-5000 foot range? He said his saturation levels are as low as 85%. I don't want to exacerbate his condition, but I would like to treat him to a nice flight before he can no longer enjoy it.

Any thoughts?

Dangers of O2 in the plane? Come on out to the west where many of us have O2 bottles either installed or portables that live in the airplanes. As long as someone shows you how to properly use the tank, regulator and either mask or cannula, there's really no problem. Takes about 10 min. to teach about the regulator & flowmeter.

 

[Everskyward]

Yes, he has one. I was just questioning its effectiveness at altitude.

You're not talking about a very high altitude. 3000 to 5000 feet is below ground level here. I have had passengers use an oxygen concentrator, but we started out from Denver and the plane was pressurized to about 7000-8000 feet at altitude, just like many commercial airliners.

 

[brcase]

Best answer, check with his doctor. Airline cabin pressures typically don't go above 8000 feet. So if the doctor says ok for airline travel and you stay below 8000 feet I think all would be ok. Of course staying lower is better still.

Brian

Edit: I would expect the medical O2 tank would be just fine for him in the airplane, especially if it has the option of increasing the O2 flow.

 

[poadeleted20]

If his O2 sat is only 85% on the ground, you sure do want him on O2 in flight, even at 3000-5000 feet. Nasal cannulas (what he probably uses already) are normally effective up to 18,000 feet, so from an O2 delivery standpoint, just taking along his regular O2 bottle and using the cannula should be sufficient at the altitudes you're talking about. Just don't let anyone smoke or otherwise light any fires in the cockpit while his bottle is aboard (probably good advice even when his bottle isn't aboard, but that's another story), and if you get a cockpit fire in flight, toss the bottle overboard ASAP.