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San Luis Obispo -- San Luis Obispo County Sheriff-Coroners are warning persons about smoking and oxygen tanks. Two deaths over the last several months have been attributed to patients smoking while using nasal cannulas attached to oxygen tanks."There is not enough clearance between the oxygen being dispensed in the nose and the lit tip of a nearby cigarette causing a small flash of flame sufficient to cause death." said Senior Deputy Coroner Jeff Nichols.
It is highly unusual to have these kinds of deaths and any county residents who are using oxygen next to open flame are cautioned to keep a safe distance from the oxygen source while smoking. The first incident occurred in Sept. causing the death of a 67-year-old Morro Bay woman, and the second was a 62-year-old-man from Arroyo Grande on November 15th.
