Oxygen use and cigarettes: Public safety issue?

Pat Benes was surprised and frightened when she recently witnessed a man smoking a cigarette while using oxygen at the Coeur d'Alene Casino.

"I know the dangers of it, and I was appalled," said the Post Falls woman. "I went to my room and called the front desk immediately."

Benes said the hotel attendant was only able to offer an apology and told Benes the casino has no rule in place for this type of situation.

It is estimated that more than a million people in the U.S. use medical oxygen. According to the safety handbook patients are given by Ironwood Medical Supply in Coeur d'Alene, oxygen is very safe when used properly. Users are instructed to maintain a "safe distance" of 15 feet or more between all oxygen equipment and any flame or other potential source of ignition. Patients are also encouraged to post "No Smoking" signs on entryway doors and in any area where oxygen is being used or stored.

Bob Bostwick, the casino's director of public relations said, as far as he knows, the casino has not received any formal complaints about this issue in the past. He confirmed the casino has no policy in place for the use of oxygen tanks in smoking sections or anywhere on the property.

The Press contacted several other Kootenai County businesses that allow customers to smoke indoors to see how oxygen use within proximity of a lit cigarette is addressed at those establishments. Representatives at Bennett Bay Inn, a motel on Coeur d'Alene Lake Drive, and at the Corner Bar on Fourth Street in Coeur d'Alene declined to comment.

Keva Wolfe, the owner of Bob's 21 Club, a bar in Post Falls, said in her 50 years in the bar business, she has never had any issues with smokers using oxygen.

"But I've never seen anybody use oxygen in the bar," Wolfe said. "My aunt is on O2 and comes into the bar, but she doesn't take it with her."

Judy Poirier, 70, of Coeur d'Alene, has been on medical oxygen for two years. Poirier was also a smoker for many years, even when she first began using the oxygen.

"My doctors and oxygen company told me not to smoke and explained the dangers," Poirier said. "I wasn't fearful of smoking with oxygen because I was careful."

Poirier - a mother of five with 10 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren - quit smoking after a few months on oxygen. She said it was a health decision prompted by pleas from her family members and not based on a fear of explosions or fire.

Though the matter hasn't been addressed officially at the casino, Bostwick said he believes it's worth a policy discussion.

"It's important to consider, especially the dangers," Bostwick said. "We have almost a million people come through here a year who may consider it as something important."

Benes said she hopes to see something change at the businesses that allow smoking. When she heard the casino may consider looking at the way it deals with patrons who smoke cigarettes with oxygen tanks at their sides, she was pleased.

"I think that would be awesome if they looked into it," Benes said. "Better late than never."