If a passenger on oxygen is near a passenger with PPOC, what should you do?

• A. Move the oxygen passenger
• B. Move the PPOC passenger
• C. Increase distance to 50 feet
• D. Do nothing

Answer: (B)

The situation tests infection control and minimizing exposure for a vulnerable traveler. When someone on oxygen is near a passenger with a potentially contagious condition, the priority is to separate the contagious person from the oxygen-dependent passenger. Moving the potentially contagious passenger creates distance and reduces the chance of transmission or contamination of the oxygen equipment. Simply moving the oxygen user doesn’t address the source of risk, and trying to enforce a 50-foot separation isn’t practical in a crowded space. Leaving things as they are would keep both people at higher risk. So, the best action is to relocate the passenger with the potential infectious condition to increase distance from the oxygen-requiring passenger.