Traveling with Oxygen

These instructions from Children's Hospital of Philadelphia describe how to safely travel with oxygen.

Patient instructions: preparing for safe travel with oxygen

• Before traveling with oxygen, contact your home care company and ask them how much oxygen your child will need for safe travel.

• To calculate the amount of oxygen needed, answer the questions below with your home care provider:

  • What is the highest prescribed liter flow that is needed for your child?

  • What is your travel time?

  • What is double that travel time? This calculation is required to safely determine how much oxygen you will need to take with you in your vehicle.

• Map out your travel route. Identify area hospitals and avoid major highways to reduce the risk of traffic delays.

• The home care respiratory therapist will help determine the amount of oxygen that can be safely transported in your vehicle to meet your child's needs.

Instructions for traveling with oxygen:

• Oxygen needs to be visible to the caregiver while it is secured in your vehicle.

• Do not place oxygen in the trunk of your vehicle.

• All tanks need to be securely fastened in the car to avoid injury. Portable liquid oxygen tanks must be secured in an upright position to prevent them from spilling if tipped over.

• No sparks, flames or smoking in the vehicle with oxygen.

• Keep the window open slightly to allow air to move through the vehicle.

• Keep oxygen out of direct sunlight and away from any heat sources. Do not store oxygen in your vehicle when unattended, especially in hot weather.

• Have back up oxygen and oxygen supplies, such as cannula or masks, available.

• Identify and review applicable traffic laws when traveling with oxygen. Be aware there could be tunnel restrictions for hazardous materials.

Reviewed on February 1, 2023, by John Tamasitis, RT