How is Oxygen Used?

Oxygen is a vital element with numerous applications, crucial for life and various industries.

Oxygen's primary use is in healthcare. It's a life-saving medicine with no substitute, used to treat a wide range of respiratory illnesses.

Respiratory Illnesses: Oxygen therapy helps patients with conditions like COVID-19, pneumonia, COPD, emphysema, and sleep apnea obtain sufficient oxygen for proper bodily function. [Source: WHO, Cleveland Clinic]
Surgery and Trauma: Oxygen is essential during surgical procedures and in the treatment of trauma patients to ensure adequate oxygen supply to tissues. [Source: WHO]
Vulnerable Populations: Newborns, infants, pregnant women, and older adults often require supplemental oxygen therapy. [Source: WHO]
Delivery Methods: Oxygen is administered through various methods, including oxygen tents, inhalators, pediatric incubators, and oxygen hoods for infants. [Source: Britannica, MedlinePlus]
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy: This advanced technique uses high-pressure oxygen to treat conditions like carbon monoxide poisoning and severe infections. [Source: Mayo Clinic, MedlinePlus]

Industrial Applications

Beyond medicine, oxygen plays a vital role in numerous industrial processes.

Steel Production: The largest commercial use of oxygen is in steel manufacturing. [Source: RSC]
Chemical Manufacturing: Oxygen is a key component in the production of various chemicals. [Source: RSC]

At a cellular level, oxygen is essential for respiration.

Energy Production: Our cells use oxygen to break down food and generate energy. [Source: AMNH]
Blood Transport: Red blood cells carry oxygen throughout the body, delivering it to tissues that require energy. [Source: NHS Blood Donation]

Oxygen systems are crucial for flight safety at high altitudes. [Source: FAA]