How can you determine whether oxygen is flowing?

• A. Hold the cannula tips over the inside of your wrist to check that the oxygen is flowing.
• B. Listen for a hiss from the flow meter.
• C. Read the gauge on the oxygen cylinder.
• D. Visually inspect the cannula for condensation.

Answer: (A)

You verify oxygen flow by sensing it at the delivery site. When the cannula is placed against the skin, you can feel a light breeze or cool air moving, which means oxygen is actually flowing to the patient. This is a direct check of delivery, not just the system being open.

Relying on other clues can be misleading: the gauge on a cylinder shows remaining pressure, not how much is reaching the patient; a hiss from the flow meter could indicate a leak somewhere and doesn’t guarantee that the patient is getting gas; condensation on the cannula isn’t a reliable indicator of flow either. Using the skin-sense check gives you immediate, practical confirmation that oxygen is flowing to the patient.