Alert over O2 sets

[Mr T.]

Thanks to Jules for the email





WARNING ALERT - SOS O2 SETS WITH INTEGRAL PRESSURE REGULATORS

A member has recently advised BSAC HQ of a concern with these units.

The Medicines, Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is aware of two incidents where dentists have received minor burns when the regulator ignited whilst they were turning the cylinder on. The MHRA believes that the design of these integral regulators is inappropriate for this use.

The units concerned are SOS Ltd and Medical Gas Services Ltd oxygen cylinders with an integral regulator, which were distributed by several suppliers as a source of oxygen for emergency use. It could be that some BSAC diving branches are in possession of such equipment.

This problem only affects cylinders with integral regulators from SOS Ltd, and from Medical Gas Services Ltd, who must not be confused with Medical Gas Solutions Ltd, who purchased the assets of SOS Ltd from the receivers.

SOS Ltd and Medical Gas Services Ltd are in liquidation; therefore there is no product support or customer records for these devices. As the extent of the problem is not known, all affected cylinders with integral regulators should no longer be used and should be disposed of appropriately. For more information, visit the MHRA website at:
http://devices.mhra.gov.uk/mda/mdawebsitev2.nsf/webvwMDASafetyWarnings/

[Justin Owen]

I sent that to HQ!

;o)

[Fiona]

all affected cylinders with integral regulators should no longer be used and should be disposed of appropriately.

This is not strickly true, when I phoned them they said return the sets to Medical Gas Solutions Ltd and they will check them out, they will then let you know what the issues are. If they are OK then they will refill the set and return it to you.

Don't just dispose of what might be a perfectly good set.