According to the World Health Organization COPD is the third leading cause of death worldwide, behind heart disease and stroke.  It currently kills more women than breast cancer and diabetes combined. 

Over 3 million people die each year of COPD related causes.  Despite being such a prolific killer COPD is probably the least recognized and most underdiagnosed disease. 

It is estimated that approximately 14.2 million people have been diagnosed with COPD but as many as 13 million have COPD and have yet to be diagnosed.

In light of the recent fires in the Pacific Northwest, and the threat of a powerful El Niño year we thought an evacuation action plan might be helpful.  Oxygen users should have an emergency kit on hand, not just in times of natural disaster, but always.  Even an overnight power failure requires quick action on the oxygen user’s part to maintain oxygen levels.

On Memorial Day, American’s pause to remember those who gave their lives and those who make sacrifices every day to protect our freedom.  Few of us can imagine what active duty soldiers and their families endure. 

And even fewer can imagine what it must be like to care for a child with serious health problems while worrying about a husband who is deployed fighting the war against terror in the Middle East. 

This is the everyday reality of SP4 Tom and his wife Julie who have a young son named Johnny.  Johnny is just 16 years old with big brown eyes and close cropped brown hair, much like his dad’s military issue haircut.  

Back in December we met Larry Peel.  Larry was diagnosed with COPD about 11 years ago and has been on supplemental oxygen for the past 7 years. 

We got in touch with Larry because one of our owners saw a news report about him.  He had received an oxygen concentrator from his insurance company, Kaiser but now they were wanting the unit back because they said that he had received it in error. 

Larry explained that he needed the portable during his long shifts as a 911 operator but the insurance company still called his lifeline to oxygen, "non-essential".  

Peel sometimes resorted to going without oxygen and trying to remain as still and calm as possible to avoid getting winded and triggering a coughing spell.

As you can imagine, in the life of a 911 dispatcher this was not always possible.  It's estimated that patients who do not use their required oxygen increase their chances of heart failure or stroke by up to 50%.  

With Larry's dosage he would need up to 5 or 6 heavy tanks to last him through a 10 or 12 hour shift.  He feared that he would have to quit work, leaving this single dad unable to support himself and his son.

We talk a lot about COPD and heart ailments in relation to oxygen use but not every oxygen user has lung or heart problems.  We recently met one very special oxygen user whose need for oxygen stems from a liver problem.