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Devilbiss healthcare was notified of an incident involving an oxygen concentrator by the end user who reported that there was a fire related event where the end user sustained 2nd degree burns to his face and was hospitalized for four days.He stated that there was construction taking place in the building and he noticed an electrical odor coming from the bathroom.He went to investigate and indicated there he did not observe flames or smoke; however, he stated the heat coming from the bathroom caused the oxygen to ignite near his face.The concentrator was located in a different room from where the event took place.The device contains several warnings against smoking during use, both on the product itself and in instructions for use.The on-product warnings include a large, clear "no smoking" icon, and a clear "no open flame" icon as well.The instructions for use warn against smoking during use in several places, in several languages, including the following verbiage: "oxygen causes rapid burning.Do not smoke while your oxygen concentrator is operating, or when you are near a person utilizing oxygen therapy.Smoking during oxygen therapy is dangerous and is likely to result in facial burns or death.Do not allow smoking within the same room where the oxygen concentrator or any oxygen carrying accessories are located.If you intend to smoke, you must always turn the oxygen concentrator off, remove the cannula and leave the room where either the cannula or mask or the oxygen concentrator is located.If unable to leave the room, you must wait 10 minutes after you have turned off the oxygen concentrator before smoking.Oxygen makes it easier for a fire to start and spread.Do not leave the nasal cannula or mask on bed coverings or chair cushions if the oxygen concentrator is turned on but not in use.The oxygen will make the materials flammable.Turn the oxygen concentrator off when not in use to prevent oxygen enrichment.Keep the oxygen concentrator and cannula at least 2 m (6.5 feet) from hot, sparking objects or naked sources of flame.Open flames during oxygen therapy are dangerous and are likely to result in fire or death.Do not allow open flames within 2 m (6.5 feet) of the oxygen concentrator or any oxygen carrying accessories.Drive devilbiss oxygen concentrators are equipped with a fire mitigating outlet fitting that prevents propagation of fire into the unit." the manufacturer concludes, based on the information provided, that the oxygen concentrator did not malfunction, but that the user may have been too close to a heat source from the construction.Devilbiss healthcare will file an update if additional information becomes available.
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