FDA Recalls Portable Oxygen Tanks for Fire Risk

January 3, 2013 — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Praxair, Inc. have announced a voluntary Class 1 recall of the “Grab n’ Go Vantage Portable Oxygen Cylinder Unit.” The problem is that fires can occur inside the cylinder, which may break the wall of the unit and cause oxygen to leak. This could cause a sudden fire, which may result in severe burns, loss of oxygen delivery for the patient, or death.

Praxair initiated the recall on November 16 after receiving reports of fires. The fires were reportedly caused when patients knocked over the cylinder, causing a sudden impact. Although the fires are self-extinguishing, the FDA has warned:

“If a fire occurs, users may experience burns or a lack of oxygen (hypoxia). This product may cause serious adverse health consequences, including death.”

The company issued a “Medical Device Correction” letter to customers and distributors on November 26, describing the problem. The company has recommended that customers should contact the manufacturer and send the Grab n’ Go units back for servicing.

Praxair reminded customers who own a portable oxygen unit to take the following precautions to prevent damaging the unit:

• Store the systems indoors in a safe area
• Never store a system on an elevated location
• Handle the system safely and avoid dropping or jarring the system

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