Why is fire the main danger with home oxygen?

Oxygen itself does not burn, but it makes other things catch fire much more easily and burn far more fiercely, and it can soak into clothing, hair and furnishings. So the real hazard is fire — which is why flames, sparks and flammable items must be kept well away.

Can anyone smoke near home oxygen?

No. Do not smoke, and do not let anyone else smoke or vape, near oxygen. Most home-oxygen fires are linked to smoking, and it has caused severe burns and deaths. Smoking is usually not allowed if you are on home oxygen, and this applies to everyone in the home.

Is it safe to light a flame once the oxygen is switched off?

Not immediately. Oxygen lingers in clothing, hair and fabric for a while after switch-off. Fire services commonly advise airing clothing in the open for around twenty minutes before going near a flame. When in doubt, keep well away from flames whether the oxygen is on or off.

Can I use Vaseline or lip balm while on oxygen?

Avoid oil-, petroleum- or paraffin-based products (like petroleum jelly, some lip balms, chest rubs and oily creams) on your face, nose, lips or hands while using oxygen — they are a fire and burn risk. Use water-based products instead, and ask your pharmacist if unsure.

Using Home Oxygen Safely: Fire Safety Guide

Q: How far should oxygen be kept from the cooker or a flame?

Keep it well away — guidance often suggests around three metres from open-flame appliances like a cooker or fire, and around one and a half metres from other heat sources. Treat these as rough guides, never cook over a gas flame while wearing oxygen, and follow your supplier’s advice.

Written & reviewed by the BestDoctors.sg editorial team · Last updated 28 Aug 2026 · General information, not medical advice

Home oxygen is safe when used correctly, but it carries one dominant hazard that everyone in the household must understand: fire. Oxygen itself does not burn or explode, but it makes other things catch fire much more easily and burn far more fiercely. The good news is that the safety rules are simple and clear. This guide sets them out — and they matter enough that it is worth reading with everyone you live with.

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In a medical emergency, or for severe or sudden symptoms such as breathing difficulty, chest pain, fainting or stroke signs, call 995 immediately.

This is general safety information; follow your oxygen supplier’s and fire service’s specific advice. Never smoke, vape or allow naked flames near oxygen, and never use oil-based products on your skin while using it. Call 995 in a fire emergency, and for severe breathlessness, blue lips, or new drowsiness or confusion.

Why fire is the main hazard

Oxygen supports combustion: in an oxygen-rich atmosphere, materials ignite more easily and flames burn hotter and faster. Oxygen can also soak into clothing, hair, bedding and soft furnishings, making them burn far more fiercely if they catch. That is why fire — not the oxygen itself — is the real danger of home oxygen, and why the rest of this guide is about keeping flames, sparks and anything flammable well away from it.

No smoking — the biggest rule

Do not smoke, and do not let anyone else smoke, near oxygen. Fire services report that most home-oxygen fires are linked to smoking, and smoking while using oxygen has caused severe facial burns and deaths. This is why smoking is usually not allowed if you are on home oxygen, and it applies to everyone in the home, not just the person using the oxygen. E-cigarettes and vaping are included — they have an ignition source and are not a safe alternative near oxygen.

Oxygen lingers after switch-off

A crucial and often-missed point: oxygen stays trapped in clothing, hair and fabric for a while after you switch the equipment off. So you cannot make it safe to light a cigarette or go near a flame simply by turning the machine off. Fire-service leaflets commonly advise airing your clothing in the open for around twenty minutes before going near any flame or ignition source. When in doubt, keep well away from flames whether the oxygen is on or off.

Keep away from flames and heat

Keep oxygen well away from all naked flames and heat sources: gas cookers and hobs, open and gas fires, pilot lights, candles, matches, lighters, incense, gas or paraffin heaters, and hot surfaces. Do not cook over a gas flame or sit close to an open fire while wearing oxygen. Guidance commonly suggests keeping the equipment a good distance — often around three metres from open-flame appliances like a cooker or fire, and around one and a half metres from other heat sources — but treat these as rough guides and follow your supplier’s advice.

No oil-based products

Avoid oil-, petroleum- or paraffin-based products on your face, nose, lips or hands while using oxygen — for example petroleum jelly, some lip balms, chest rubs, and oily face or hand creams. Near oxygen, these can be a serious fire and burn risk. Use water-based products instead for a dry nose or lips, and if you are unsure whether something is safe, ask your pharmacist. The same principle means you must never oil or grease any part of the oxygen equipment.

Aerosols, flammables and the home

Keep aerosols, flammable liquids and alcohol-based hand gels or cleaners away from oxygen while it is in use, as some are flammable. Keep the concentrator in a well-ventilated space, not shut in a cupboard or pushed against soft furnishings, and never cover it or block its vents; avoid overloading extension leads. Have working smoke alarms and know your escape plan. Store cylinders upright, secured, in a ventilated place away from heat and direct sun.

Telling the fire service and getting help

It is commonly advised to let your local fire service know that you have oxygen at home, and in some places they offer a home fire-safety visit to check smoke alarms and escape routes. In Singapore, follow the fire-safety advice your oxygen supplier gives for your home, keep flames and cooking well away from where you use oxygen, and make sure everyone in the household knows the rules. In a fire, get out, stay out, and call 995 from a safe place outside the home. Do not go back inside for equipment or belongings, as they can all be replaced. These simple habits keep home oxygen safe. Because the whole household shares the space, it helps for everyone living with you to understand the rules too, so that no one accidentally brings a flame or a lit cigarette near where you use your oxygen.

Sources

Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue — Home oxygen: manchesterfire.gov.uk
Royal Berkshire Fire & Rescue — Smoking, emollients and oxygen users: rbfrs.co.uk
NHS — Home oxygen treatment: nhs.uk
Asthma + Lung UK — Living with home oxygen: asthmaandlung.org.uk

General information only. This guide supports — but does not replace — the advice of your respiratory team and oxygen supplier, who set your oxygen and tailor it to you. Never change your own oxygen flow rate, and never smoke or allow naked flames near oxygen. Oxygen is prescribed for low blood oxygen, not to relieve breathlessness on its own. Call 995 if breathing becomes severe or does not ease as usual, if the lips or fingertips turn blue, for chest pain, or if the person becomes unusually drowsy, confused or hard to wake (a possible build-up of carbon dioxide from too much oxygen). If you are struggling emotionally, you are not alone — the Samaritans of Singapore (SOS) are on 1767 and mindline.sg on 1771.

Using Oxygen Safely & Fire Safety (Singapore)