Lincoln resident invents life-saving oxygen alarm

By: Ashley Harding
aharding@klkntv.com

There's a new, life saving tool to help patients who rely on portable oxygen. And someone from Lincoln invented it! Its called Bradley Alarm Systems, Inc. It's an alarm that goes off if a patient's oxygen tank gets low. It's inventor, Bradley Walburn, hopes to get the word out to help save lives. Like many of the patients at Madonna Rehab, Kathleen Torres relies on oxygen to live. And when that valuable life line gets low, Kathleen says it can get pretty scary.

“I will go out and pass out, kind of. They say that my eyes will roll in the back of my head and I will like, pass out,” Torres said.

But these days, she's feels a lot more at ease. Thanks to this handy device known as Bradley Alarm Systems, Inc.  It connects directly to her oxygen tank. And when it gets low, the alarm sounds, alerting staff that it's time to fill up. It's inventor, Bradley Walburn, who's a Respiratory Therapist at Madonna Rehab, estimates that one out of five oxygen tanks run out in healthcare facilities every day.

“I called up a friend, like 2 weeks ago. She said she had just gotten back from a funeral for her best friend who had run out of oxygen at home. So this is a very serious subject that we need to be aware of,” Walburn said.

Not only is Bradley alarm systems a life-saving tool, it's also very mobile.  It comes with a velcro strap, allowing it to be hooked up just about anywhere. Walburn has a patent on his invention and so far, has sold to more than thirty facilities. His hope is for more patients to use them at home. To some, his invention is a Godsend.

“I'm glad we have somebody that actually has come around and invented something of this sort to help people out there that can't really help themselves,” Torres said.

Walburn says each device is priced at 110 dollars. But Walburn wants as many patients as possible to get it for free. He has set up a website to help make that happen. For more information go to http://bradleyalarmsystems.wix.com/home