Point 1:It is important to know who needs an oxygen concentrator and when. Any Covid-19 affected patient who is dealing with breathing issues can use a concentrator. In a normal scenario, our body operates with 21 per cent of oxygen concentration. During Covid, the demand goes up and your body may ask more than 90 per cent concentrated oxygen. The concentrators are capable of providing oxygen between 90 and 94 per cent. Point 2:The patients and their families need to keep in mind that if the oxygen level falls below 90 per cent, an oxygen concentrator might not be enough and that`s when they need to visit the hospital. This is because most oxygen concentrators can supply five to ten litres of oxygen per minute. Point 3:There are two types of concentrators. If the patient is recovering at home, you should buy a home oxygen concentrator. It is big, can supply more oxygen but weighs at least 14-15 kgs and requires direct power supply to work. Anything lighter than this might be a bad quality product. Point 4:In case the patient has to travel or needs to be admitted to the hospital, you should buy the portable oxygen concentrator. They are designed to be carried around, don`t need a direct power supply and can be charged like smartphones. However, they can supply limited oxygen per minute and are only a temporary solution. Point 5:Check the capacity of the concentrator. They largely come in two sizes - 5L and 10L. The first can provide 5 litres of oxygen in a minute, while the 10L concentrator can provide 10 litres of oxygen in a minute. You will find most portable concentrators with 5L capacity and that should be the minimum to look for. We will advise you to opt for the 10L size. Point 6:The most important thing buyers need to understand is that every concentrator has a different oxygen concentration level. Some of them promise has 87 per cent oxygen, while others promise the same up to 93 per cent. It would be best if you opt for the concentrator that can deliver around 93 per cent oxygen concentration. Point 7:The concentration capacity of the machine is even more important than the flow rate. It is because when the oxygen level drops, you will need more concentrated oxygen. So, if the level is 80 and the concentrator can supply 10 litre oxygen per minute, it won`t be really helpful. Point 8:Be careful of scammers while buying a concentrator. There are a number of people using WhatsApp and social media platforms to sell concentrators. You need to avoid them completely as most of them might be scams. Instead, you should try to buy Oxygen concentrator from a medical equipment dealer or from an official Philips dealer. This is because these are the places where there is a guarantee of equipment that is genuine and certified. You should also check with doctors, hospitals and others with medical expertise before making the purchase.
