Preventing Oxygen Therapy Related Fires and Burn Injuries: A Comprehensive National Strategic Approach

Karla S Klas; Rebecca Coffey; Clifford C Sheckter; Alisa Savetamal; Lucy Wibbenmeyer

doi:10.1093/jbcr/iraf125

Back

Preventing Oxygen Therapy Related Fires and Burn Injuries: A Comprehensive National Strategic Approach

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Preventing Oxygen Therapy Related Fires and Burn Injuries: A Comprehensive National Strategic Approach

Karla S Klas, Rebecca Coffey, Clifford C Sheckter, Alisa Savetamal and Lucy Wibbenmeyer

Journal of burn care & research, Vol.47(1), pp.120-129

01/06/2026

DOI: 10.1093/jbcr/iraf125

PMID: 40736181

View Online

Abstract

Fires and burn injuries incurred from home oxygen therapy continue to pose a significant and escalating public health risk, particularly as the population of older adults ≥65 years exponentially grows over the next decades. In these oxygen-rich environments, common household ignition sources can trigger spontaneous fires that burn hotter and spread more rapidly. This endangers the patient, family members, neighbors, home healthcare workers, and first responders, potentially leading to property loss, injury, and/or death. A call to action was stimulated by a national review revealing a 14% per year increase in oxygen therapy injuries over a 10-year period.1 Similarly, the Veterans Health Administration issued a "Patient Safety Alert" due to the observance of a significant increase in oxygen therapy related fires and injuries.2 To address this critical issue, professionals nationwide are seeking novel solutions to define the problem, raise awareness, and implement community-based risk reduction strategies. Hence, this paper bridges an identified literature gap by providing a needed foundational overview of oxygen therapy-related fires and burn injuries, examining incidence data, illustrating current knowledge and data limitations, highlighting unique challenges, exploring opportunities for change, outlining ongoing national risk reduction efforts, and recommending specific evidence-informed strategic approaches for comprehensive prevention and mitigation interventions.

smoking while on oxygen

supplemental oxygen fires

oxygen fires and burns

home oxygen

burn injuries from home oxygen therapy

Details

Title: Subtitle: Preventing Oxygen Therapy Related Fires and Burn Injuries: A Comprehensive National Strategic Approach
Creators: Karla S Klas - Michigan Medicine
Rebecca Coffey - Parkland Health Center
Clifford C Sheckter - Santa Clara Valley Medical Center
Alisa Savetamal - Yale New Haven Health System
Lucy Wibbenmeyer - University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of burn care & research, Vol.47(1), pp.120-129
DOI: 10.1093/jbcr/iraf125
PMID: 40736181
NLM abbreviation: J Burn Care Res
ISSN: 1559-0488
eISSN: 1559-0488
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Grant note: American Burn Association Home Oxygen Task Force and Burn Prevention CommitteeNational Fire Protection Association
The American Burn Association Home Oxygen Task Force and Burn Prevention Committee, Amalia Cochran, and partners in the fire service: Mark Norford, Ray Reynolds, Kenny Asselin, Greg Rogers, the National Fire Protection Association, and the International Association of Fire Chiefs Fire and Life Safety Section.
Language: English
Electronic publication date: 07/30/2025
Date published: 01/06/2026
Academic Unit: Surgery; Injury Prevention Research Center
Record Identifier: 9984927211102771

Metrics

4 Record Views