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Children
We understand that caring for a child using oxygen can be a very worrying period, but please be assured that we take their care very seriously. We hope the following information will help to answer any questions you have.
If you have any more questions, please contact us using this form:
Or call our Healthcare Helpline on 0800 373 580.
You can find all this information and more in the Guide to the Home Oxygen Service booklet, that our Healthcare Technician will have left during the installation of oxygen.
School
Your child’s school must be kept as well informed as possible. Baywater Healthcare is happy to help with any training or education that the school feels it can benefit from. For example, we can make sure that one of our fully-qualified Healthcare Technicians spends time with teachers and school staff, so they are confident they know all about the equipment and how to use it. We can also leave copies of the Oxygen User Guide booklet as a reference. If you would like to arrange this, please contact our Healthcare Helpline on 0800 373 580.
We can also provide a ‘permanent secondary supply’ to the school; this is where an oxygen supply and oxygen equipment are provided at the school, the same as at home. This means that any oxygen refills can be ordered just as they would be at home, should they be required.
P.E. and sports day
As long as health and safety guidelines are followed, there shouldn’t be an issue with a patient on home oxygen therapy taking part in P.E. lessons or sports day. However, we recommend that you always seek advice from your healthcare team before taking part in exercise.
We will gladly discuss these health and safety instructions with any school staff member.
School trips
School trips are part of school life, and it should be possible for a child using home oxygen therapy to go on a school trip. Please discuss any planned trips with your Healthcare Professional.
Day trips – ensure the child has enough oxygen and that any home oxygen therapy equipment is transported appropriately. Should extra supplies be required, then please speak to your Healthcare Professional.
Residential trips – the same principle and process as a holiday in the U.K. should be applied to a residential trip. However, the school should agree to this first before any further arrangements are made.
If the school trip is to an area where we supply home oxygen therapy, we can arrange for a Healthcare Technician to visit the trip’s location to make any risk assessments that may be needed.
PLEASE NOTE: Baywater Healthcare CANNOT supply oxygen to a tent, and an oxygen supply should never be used in a tent. As oxygen can help fires burn more fiercely, we recommend that anyone using oxygen stays at least 3m (10 feet) away from naked flames – this includes campfires.
We only request that our safety information be followed, with no compromises to anyone’s safety or well-being. It is also recommended that your Healthcare Professional is informed and can complete any tests or assessments they feel are needed
Clubs and groups etc.
As with school, we are happy to speak to any leaders or members of staff to provide education and training about the home oxygen therapy supply and equipment.
Swimming
Just because your child is on home oxygen therapy, doesn’t mean they can’t participate in activities such as swimming. You will need to take an extra length of long tubing and walk alongside the swimming pool next to your child with their oxygen cylinder, and if it is busy, this can be difficult. Have a chat with your Baywater Healthcare Technician or call the Healthcare Helpline on 0800 373 580 and ask for spare oxygen tubing and nasal prongs that you can use just as a ‘swimming set’.
Pets
Pets in the home are seen as one of the family, but extra care may need to be taken if a home is shared by both a family pet and a child who uses home oxygen therapy. Some respiratory conditions could be made worse by pet hair and fibres, and extra care is needed to protect tubing and equipment from being pulled and chewed. Speak to your healthcare team for more advice.
Birthday candles
It is a great tradition to allow children to blow out candles on their birthday cake each year; however, if the birthday child uses home oxygen therapy, some extra safety points will need to be remembered:
DO NOT allow any naked flames of any size or kind near an oxygen supply at any time.
This does not mean the birthday or celebration is ruined; you can get very realistic battery-operated candles that look just as special on top of the birthday cake. Please remember to take extra care when attending other children’s parties.
Sun cream
In the summer, it is essential that skin is protected from the sun by using a high factor sun cream, but it is really important that any creams containing oils or petroleum products are not used anywhere on the skin. If you’re unsure which suncreams to use, you can check the ingredients shown on the bottle or speak to your pharmacist and explain the situation.
