They are a material public health issue. But there are solutions, including a small thermal fuse device, or oxygen firebreak, that shuts off the flow of oxygen in the event of a fire in the tubing.
Thermal fuses devices have been provided to all Veterans Health Administration (VA) home oxygen patients since 2018, but there are still hundreds of thousands more who could benefit from them.
The States of Iowa, Washington, North Dakota, Missouri and Kansas have opted to reimburse (fund) home oxygen providers for bidirectional thermal fuses through their State Medicaid systems. This required the states to make a simple change to their Medicaid policy. The policy change came about thanks to the efforts of many people, including fire professionals and healthcare practitioners, who are passionate about making a difference and saving lives.
“There are over 1.5 million people in the U.S. on home oxygen to manage various respiratory conditions and research suggests the number of COPD patients requiring home oxygen therapy will rise dramatically as the population ages. This means it is even more important that we act now.”
“As a retired Deputy Fire Chief, I understand that safeguarding lives and property is paramount. The integration of thermal fuses devices into our fire safety protocols is a critical step in preventing potential disasters and reducing fire fatalities. By stopping the flow of oxygen during a fire, these devices serve as a reliable line of defense, automatically cutting off the fuel for the fire and significantly reducing the risk of fire escalation.”
Around 16 million people have been diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (COPD) in the US – around 1 in 8 people over 45. Of these, an estimated 1.5 million require home oxygen therapy (HOT).
HOT increases the levels of oxygen in the blood, relieving symptoms such as breathlessness and fatigue, and is an important treatment for patients with lung conditions. This treatment is delivered in various forms: an oxygen concentrator (that concentrates oxygen from the atmosphere), liquid oxygen (delivered in large containers or ‘dewars’), and gaseous oxygen (cylinders).
An estimated 100-150 people a year die in home oxygen fires in the US
Over 1,200 people a year suffer burn injuries
25% of incidents result in a whole house fire
Two firefighters were killed between 2017 and 2021 attending home oxygen fires
30-50% of home oxygen patients smoke, the leading cause of home oxygen fires
An estimated
100-150
people a year die in home oxygen fires in the US
Over
1,200
people a year suffer burn injuries
25%
of incidents result in a whole house fire
Up to
52%
of home oxygen patients smoke, the leading cause of home oxygen fires
A collaborative, multidisciplinary approach has seen a dramatic reduction in home oxygen fire deaths in England. Similarly, in Washington State, medical, Fire-EMT services, and home oxygen providers are working together. This includes conducting risk assessments, educating patients, and installing smoke alarms.
The use of a safety device – a thermal fuse (firebreak) – that stops the flow of oxygen in the event of a fire in the tubing (now used in 25 countries around the world) is also part of this approach. Between 2013 and 2017, only one home oxygen fire death was recorded in England where thermal fuses are universally used, among a patient population of around 80,000. That’s around 20 times fewer than the US.
This approach is now being adopted in parts of the US; Washington, Iowa and North Dakota began coverage of bidirectional thermal fuses via their State Medicaid system in 2023, and multiple fire departments are undertaking installation initiatives.
Find out how to seek funding for thermal fuses in your state.
Join the cause and find out how you can help to protect your communities and firefighters
Kansas has joined Iowa, Washington, and North Dakota in covering thermal fuses via their state Medicaid programs, while Missouri now requires oxygen providers to supply
Following a public hearing, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is now expected to make a decision on funding bidirectional thermal fuses in
An application for a new reimbursement code for bidirectional thermal fuses was submitted to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
The long-awaited ISO standard for fire-activated oxygen shut-off devices for use during oxygen therapy is currently at publication phase.
A new report published in the Journal of Burn Care and Research has provided fresh evidence for the economic viability of reimbursing thermal fuses.
Organizations representing the homecare industry and the political establishment have shown interest in the issue of home oxygen fires with briefings from AAHomecare and Governors.
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