Just heard this on local news...man killed lighting up cigarette while on oxygen

[Dan Murphy]

http://www.nbc5.com/news/3690363/detail.html?z=dp&dpswid=2265994&dppid=65172

Seems like if you are on oxygen you might not be smoking.


What's up with that, this is the second weird death news item I heard in the past 30 minutes.

 

[zagafi]

Sounds like a nominee for the Darwin Awards...

 

[mickeyboat]

My jaw has hit the floor again.

He was probably in the hospital for smoking related disease.

When I was in high school, I was a volunteer at our local VA hospital. The nurses had me doing all kinds of work, from filing to making beds - a lot of inappropriate tasks for a 14 year old IMO. They also had me transporting patients to x-ray. The nurses told me to not let the men smoke when they were waiting.

I remember one man I wheeled down to the waiting room. He wheeled himself over to the ash tray and proceeded to take his cigarettes out of his pocket and light one. I pleaded with him not to smoke, but he said he was going to die anyway, he might as well smoke some more.

I was devastated that I couldn't get him not to smoke. I ended up bawling in the bathroom.

Denae

 

[tar heel]

When I worked for hospice, a patient was discharged b/c she wouldn't stop smoking even though she was on oxygen. She had suffered serious burns on her own body, yet continued to smoke. She was discharged b/c visiting her home was a staff safety issue.

 

[RitaZ.]

Seems like if you are on oxygen you might not be smoking.

It makes sense to me, but I guess their addiction is too powerful or maybe they just want to continue to smoke. Several months ago, I saw a man outside Denny's that was smoking a cigarette, when he finished with it he had to use his portable oxygen tank. DH couldn't believe it.

 

[disney4us2002]

Piece of advice Dan, step away from the tv, radio, online news, etc. It's grossing me out!

You know my mom always claimed death (bad news really) came in threes so you'll probably come across another one before the day is out.

 

[grinningghost]

My friend's grandmother lugged around an oxygen tank for years while dealing with emphysema. And yes, she continued to smoke the whole time.

She did finally die, but it was amazing how long she lasted doing that routine.

 

[Maleficent13]

The guy who strapped a jet engine to his wheelchair will probably be the next weird death Dan hears...

We need a smiley that is the opposite of this: because no one can see me shaking my head in disbelief.

 

[bigbabyblues]

I used to work midnight shift as a registration clerk in an ER, and it surprised me the number of people that went out to smoke all hours of the night pushing their portable oxygen tanks. I just don't get it!

Steph

 

[DebbieB]

I have an aunt in her mid 70's who has emphysema. She was a heavy smoker since her early teens, she didn't have the will power to quit even after she was on oxygen. One time she and my mom and her other sisters went to Olive Garden for one of their birthdays (not hers). My aunt didn't care that some of the others were not smokers, she always demanded the smoking section (she was the oldest sister, so I guess she felt she was in charge). She requested smoking and they refused to seat her with her oxygen. She turned around and started to leave! Her sister said can't we just sit in non-smoking and you can go outside after dinner? She didn't want to but finally gave in. Her condition has deteriorated now and she finally no longer smokes (as far as we know!), she is on constant oxygen. She is also ballooned up with prednisone. Very sad situation, glad I never started smoking.

 

[KristaTX]

Sorry, Dan, but I don't know what else to say. Cigarettes totally suck . Congratulations to those of you who never started, kudos to all of you who have quit, strength to all of you who are trying to quit, and good luck to those of you who don't want to even try to quit.

 

[mermaidlady]

my FIL was this way. smoked on oxygen until the day before he died. I refused to go there with my kids because it was such a hazard ( he would fall asleep in the chair while smoking on O2) claimed it was just a myth that oxygen was a hazard around cigerettes! It was pure dumb luck he never started a fire

 

[mickeyfan1]

YEs, smoking and O2 tanks don't mix, but for those people who think that the smoker doesn't have the "will power" to quit, or just doesn't want to, if you have ever smoked and quit, you are among the lucky. Nicotine is an adictive substance for some people, and no matter how hard they try to stop using it, they can't do it by will power alone. Some people need additonal help, just like some people addicted to other drugs. I can tell you that I have not had a cigarette in at least 2 years, maby 2 and 1/2. But I still get the urge, big time. And not when I am where you might expect it, like in a bar. THe last time I really, really, really wanted one I was outside walking my dogs in the yard, it was about 20 degress, not pleaseant at all and there I was suddenly wishing I could light up. It is sad to know that some people die from smoking related illnesses, it is also interesting to note that not everyone who smokes gets ill from it. If you know someone who is trying to quit, support them. If you know someone who doesn't seem to care, they already know the facts, you don't need to berate them.

 

[ZachnElli]

I am amazed that so many of you are surprised by this! I'm not! My in-laws are very heavy smokers and I have visited them in the hospital several times. I've seen the hospital smoking rooms (visiting the in-laws) and there are so many people in there with their oxygen tanks! That will be my in-laws one day, if they make it that long!

 

[mrsheppo]

I remember seeing a man at work one day who had a hole cut in his oxygen mask so he could smoke. He thought he had his O2 completely turned off and lit up. It wasn't completely off, he lit up and POOF!!! - singed his eyelashes, eyebrows, blackened his face, etc. His wife said not to worry, it had happened before.

 

[Towncrier]

I guess you could call this guy an
OxyMoron

 

[MScott1851]

You would be amazed at the number of hospital patients who push their IV poles and carry their 02 tanks downstairs and outside to smoke! The worst are the little bedridden ladies that have been smoking for 75 years and by god, they are going to light up whenever they darn well please. There's one lady in particular that ALWAYS tries to smoke when she comes into the ER. I end up taking them away from her, but she always produces another one from inside her clothing somewhere!