Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): In the backdrop of rising COVID-19 cases, a mock drill was conducted on Sunday to test the functioning of Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) oxygen plants installed in government health institutions across Bhopal.

The oxygen purity was also checked during the drill. As of now, Madhya Pradesh has reported 16 active COVID-19 cases.

The mock drill was carried out by PSA plant technicians under the supervision of the respective institutional in-charges. During the exercise, the oxygen flow rate was measured at outlets near patient beds. The oxygen pressure from the PSA plant was recorded at 4.6 bar, while the pressure at the bedside was measured at 4.2 bar.

The availability and functioning of emergency systems for fire safety prevention and their operational readiness was also tested during the mock drill.

In Bhopal, two oxygen plants with a capacity of 1000 LPM each and one a Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO) plant of 6 kilolitres capacity are operating in the district hospital. Besides, oxygen plants are operational at Civil Hospital Bairagarh, KNK, Bairasia, Community Health Center Kolar, Primary Health Center Nazirabad and other government health institutions.

Civil Hospital KNK has a 500 LPM PSA plant and a 1 kilolitre LMO plant; Civil Hospital Bairagarh and Kolar have 150-150 LPM plants, AIIMS has 1000 LPM; Gandhi Medical College has 5000 LPM, Kamala Nehru Gas Relief, Khushi Lal and Railway Hospital and Kasturba Hospital each has 500 LPM, while Primary Health Centre Nazirabad has 250 LPM capacity oxygen plants.

CMHO, Bhopal, Dr Prabhakar Tiwari said "The functioning of PSA plants, oxygen supply, and oxygen purity are regularly checked. Data gathered from the mock drills is analyzed and reported to senior officials."