Hospitals in the country are facing a major oxygen crisis due to the COVID-19 surging cases. Due to the nature of the coronavairus, a chunk of the victims are mostly under respiratory distress. Uttar Pradesh too, is steadily reporting the demands of oxygen cylinders and keeping this in view, the state’s CM has requested all the government hospitals to stock up on a 48-hour backup. So in a bid to keep the oxygen flow sufficiently running, UP’s health department is planning to install oxygen generators at hospitals
What are oxygen generators?
An oxygen concentrator, also known as an O2 generator, is a type of a medical equipment which is used for delivering oxygen to individuals with breathing-related disorders. Individuals whose oxygen concentration in their blood is lower than normal often require an oxygen concentrator to replace that oxygen. Oxygen generators are capable of extracting oxygen from air.
Hospitals in the state are stocking up on oxygen with the aid of liquid oxygen cylinders. These cylinders can store this life-saving gas for up to 14 days, on the basis of a 150-bed hospital. There are infirmaries too, which are housing approximately 100 oxygen cylinders to maintain the regular supply of it and to provide for resources during emergencies. At present, an oxygen generator is active at Lucknow’s Queen Mary’s Hospital (KGMU) which is capable of loading 80 cylinders within a span of 24 hours. KGMU also has a liquid oxygen tank in its premises.
The director-general, medical health, Dr. DS Negi was quoted saying, “Initially, 10 hospitals will get oxygen generators.” The functional technical committee will also take a decision on the tender for the oxygen generators and finalize the purchases.
A message to all our readers
As a responsible citizen, please do follow the directives as suggested by the medical professionals and do not self-medicate instead of getting help, at the slightest sign of any symptoms. Even if you’re stepping out for your essentials, do not forget your masks and sanitizers and maintaining a distance is an absolute compulsion! Remember that curve is far from being flattened.
