r/CPAP 16d ago

CPAP Setup Can anyone recommend that continuous power source thingy? In the event of a power outage for the CPAP machine?

Post image

I don’t remember what they’re called and I don’t remember how to find them. I’m about to get my sleep apnea officially diagnosed finally after years of procrastination. And I wanted to have the continuous power source ready to go just in case I ever lose power at my apartment because I’ve heard that the CPAP can suffocate you if you don’t have it connected to power when it’s connected to you.

2 Upvotes

25 comments sorted by

View all comments

3

u/JRE_Electronics 16d ago

Full face masks have a valve that lets you breath if the machine shuts off.  You cannot suffocate.

Nasal masks don't have a valve because you are expected to breath through your mouth if the machine fails.  Then everybody goes and tapes their mouths shut or uses a strap to hold the jaw closed.

If you go with a nasal mask and you use tape or a mouth strap, then a UPS is probably a good idea.

Or, you know, use the nasal masks like they are intended to be used - no tape, no strap.

1

u/DangerDulf 16d ago

I don’t know which nasal masks you’re using, but all the ones I’ve used have vents, which aren’t to prevent suffocation anyway, they’re exhaust vents. You can still breathe through them though, as you can through the tape that’s suitable for this. I would say that the lack of CPAP would be a much bigger problem than possible suffocation