Because supplemental oxygen is vital to your overall health and well-being, you want to choose wisely when buying an oxygen concentrator to use around your house and when traveling. It needs to have the features you need, including the proper air delivery method.

However, it’s important to go beyond the basics and choose a machine with other features that will improve your quality of life.

Let’s go over three things people often forget about when shopping for a portable oxygen concentrator (POC). By keeping these things in mind, you can buy a unit that will meet your demands at home and on the go. At the same time, you won’t have to deal with the frustrations that people experience after buying POCs without these features.

Many people buy portable oxygen concentrators because they want the freedom to move around while receiving oxygen. They assume that since “portable” is in the name, every unit is ready for all situations, ranging from walking around tight spaces to flying. However, that’s not necessarily the case.

If you choose a unit with continuous oxygen flow, it will be heavier and bulkier than a POC with pulse oxygen flow. Because of the size, continuous oxygen flow units typically require carts, while pulse flow POCs can often fit in a bag or a purse. Thus, pulse flow systems are easier to maneuver through tight spaces and take on the road.

That being said, it’s important to get the type of POC that your doctor prescribes. Thus, if your doctor recommends a continuous flow oxygen unit, you’ll need to go with that option. Fortunately, these come in various sizes, so you can still find something compact and small enough to take with you on the road.

If you want to travel by plane, you also need to choose an FAA-approved unit. Without such a unit, you won’t have access to portable oxygen when flying, which is incredibly dangerous.

You can find FAA-approved POCs that are pulse and continuous flow, allowing you to choose a unit that meets your medical and travel needs. Then, you won’t have any trouble using your oxygen concentrator while flying to another state or country.

Portable oxygen concentrators run on batteries, so you need to have enough juice when leaving home. Otherwise, you’ll have to run back to your car to recharge the battery or cut the day short and return to your house. You can avoid this problem by buying a POC with an additional battery belt.

You’ll wear the belt when using the POC, and it’ll keep the unit running when the internal battery dies. The battery belt will provide several additional hours of charge, so you can extend the time you spend outside. It’s also inconspicuous, so most people won’t even notice you have a backup battery with you.

You’ll have so much more freedom if you purchase a portable oxygen concentrator that includes this accessory.

You also want to choose a portable oxygen concentrator that’s easy to set up and use. The best POCs have large LCD screens and easy controls so you can make adjustments on the go. Some even provide access to the LCD screen and controls while the POC is in its bag.

Since you’ll likely place it in the bag when you’re out and about, this is very important. Then, you won’t have to take it out of the bag every time you need to change a setting.

Having access to the LCD screens and controls is vital, but you can make things even easier by choosing a machine that monitors your oxygen intake and needs and adjusts the flow automatically. If it detects that you need more air, it will increase the flow. Then, it will turn the flow back down when you’re no longer engaging in strenuous activity.

Because the units do this automatically, you might not even realize that your airflow increases and decreases throughout the day. Instead, it will be similar to breathing without supplemental oxygen. You will take in more air when needed and reduce your consumption when you’re not active without giving it another thought.

While not all POCs have these features, many do, so you’ll have a nice assortment of options. Then, you can get a POC that will empower you to travel, go to day-long events, and manage your oxygen flow with ease. That means your oxygen needs won’t hold you back any longer, so you can get the most out of life. In fact, you might find yourself trying new things after you have your supplemental oxygen needs under control.

Thus, start shopping around so you can find a portable oxygen concentrator to help you get off the sidelines and immerse yourself in the world around you.

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