Make an Oxygen Tank Carrier for the Back of a Wheelchair in 5 Easy Steps!

Unfortunately, too often people don't have insurance or the insurance that they have will not pay for everything they need. It can be very unhandy to lug around those oxygen tank trolleys if you're in a wheelchair with someone pushing you and trying to drag the trolley as well. There are different things and gadgets you can make when you cannot afford the medical equipment pieces you need. Here is how to make your own carrier for your oxygen tank that will strap on to the back of your wheelchair leaving both your hands and the hands of the person pushing you free. I have made this and it works very well.

You will need these items:

1 Pillow case- Use an extra one you have, but don't use one with holes in it as this will make it unsturdy.

A pair of jeans- An old pair of jeans you don't need works perfectly.

Velcro (the sow on kind NOT the sticky back velcro)- You can find this in the craft section of your store or other craft and hobby stores. They are sold in packs or can be bought by the foot off of a big roll in some stores.

Sewing Machine or Thread and Needle (if you have no machine)- If you can possible get it sown with a machine, this will make the stitches more sturdy and durable.

Step 1. Now, take your pillow case and turn it inside out. Sew straight up the middle of it lengthwise. Cut all the way up one side of the thread where you have sewn. Turn the part of the pillow case that is still intact right side out and you have the case itself that will hold the tank. Half the pillow case is the perfect size to fit your tank into.

Step 2. Next, lay your jeans out and cut one leg off. Lay the pant leg in front of you vertically. Start 2 inches from a side seam and cut all the way from bottom to top parallel with the side seam. The 2 inch strip you cut is the part you will need to keep. Sew up the cut side so that now you have a solid strip with both sides sewn. Now sew both ends shut. This will be the strap part that straps on to the back of your chair.

Step 3. Lay out the strip of jean in front of you horizontally, lengthwise from left to right. Now, lay your case for the tank vertically, bottom to top in front of you so that the open end of the case lays over the middle of the jean strip. You will sew one side of the open end of the case to the middle of the jean strip. Make sure and sew it sturdy enough to hold the weight of the hanging oxygen tank. Now you will have what resembles a big "T" when you lay it out.

Step 4. Next, you need to cut four 2 inch strips of the "loop" side of the velcro. This is the side that feels hard and prickly. You will place 2 pieces on one end of the jean strip and sew them on. Do the same to the other end of the jean strip. You will do this to the same side of the jean strip that the case is sewn on to.

Step 5. Last, cut 4 strips of the "soft" side of the velcro long enough to go from left to right on the case you made out of the pillow case. These will be anywhere from approximately 6 to 9 inches long depending on how big your case is. Sew these strips to the top open end of your case that isn't sewn to the jean strip. Sew them left to right, one underneath the other until you've sewn all four strips on. Leave about a 1/2 inch space in between the strips. You may cut some extra strips, if you wish, to sew onto the case and straps so that there will be more flexibility as far as where you can stick the ends of your jean strip onto the case.

Your oxygen tank carrier is finished! Just put in a tank and wrap one jean strap around each handle of your chair leaving enough of the straps loose to be able to reach down and stick the velcro ends of the straps to the velcro on the case. Like I said before, I made this and it works wonderfully. It is very sturdy, hasn't ripped, and supports the weight of the tank very well. I used what I already had and didn't have to spend a penny for it!