Why Can’t You Wear Deodorant In A Hyperbaric Chamber

answers

Certain components in deodorants combine with high concentrations of oxygen to create an extremely flammable environment.

Even a little bit of residue invisible to the naked eye in the high-pressure oxygen-enriched environment of the high-pressure oxygen chamber may cause a serious fire or even an explosion when encountering an electrostatic spark or any ignition source.

Principle

Combustion-supporting substance (Oxidizer) : In ordinary air, the oxygen concentration is about 21%. In the treatment of hyperbaric oxygen chamber, in order to achieve the therapeutic effect, the oxygen concentration in the chamber is often close to 100%. The high concentration of combustion improtant will greatly reduce the ignition point of combustible materials and accelerate the combustion speed exponentially.

Fuel: Deodorants, especially spray-type or ball-on-ball type containing alcohol, certain flavors and oils, are readily available fuels. Once these volatiles accumulate in cabin space or on clothing, they are extremely dangerous.

Ignition source: with high concentration of oxygen and fuel, even the static electricity between clothes, the tiny friction sparks between the hyperbaric chamber bed, and even the slight heat generated by equipment failure in some cases, can become a fatal ignition source.

In this combustion triangle, the easiest to control is the fuel, so the technician will require the patient to completely remove all flammable materials (including deodorants) from the body and clothing before entering the hyperbaric oxygen chamber.

How technicians can ensure process safety

Strict preparation process:

The hyperbaric chamber technician will supervise the patient to change into specially treated cotton or fireproof clothing provided by the hospital, and thoroughly wash the body to ensure that there is no residue on the body surface.

Device security and compatibility:

Both the hyperbaric chamber and the interior fittings must be made of “oxygen-Compatible Materials”, which means that the materials themselves do not burn easily in high-oxygen environments.

The cabin has built-in strict grounding and anti-static system to eliminate static accumulation to the greatest extent.

Alternative cleaning options for deodorant

When deodorization cannot be used, patients can use the safest and most primitive methods to clean:

• Water and neutral soap: Before entering the hyperbaric oxygen chamber, please use ordinary water and soap without fragrance to thoroughly wash the underarms and other parts of the body. This is the most reliable cleaning solution.
• Cleaning items suitable for hyperbaric oxygen chambers: some hospital-approved, alcohol-free, fragrance-free, and grease-free cleaning wipes can be used as a quick alternative, but the focus must be approved by professional technicians.
• Dress code: Wear hospital-supplied cotton or flame-retardant clothing to minimize static electricity and potential fuel sources.

FAQ

Is only spray deodorant dangerous? What about solid or roller deodorant?

All dangerous. Although solids or balls do not have propellants, their core ingredients, such as flavors, oils, alcohol derivatives, etc., are still flammable active substances.

If I used it this morning, can I still get treatment now?

It needs to be thoroughly cleaned. Also, replace the clothes you are wearing today that may contain residual deodorant.

Is my regular cotton T-shirt okay?

It’s not OK. Even pure cotton may be at risk due to detergent residues or fine oil stains on clothing fibers. The hospital will provide you with special clothes that have been specially washed and treated.