Cylinders Physicians prescribe oxygen to individuals for a variety of medical conditions including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Emergency oxygen administration outside the context of dive-related accidents requires additional training. Below is an excerpt from one of the FDA's documents related to emergency use of oxygen. This may assist you when dealing with vendors that are requesting a prescription to fill your cylinder. The wording shows that for applications, other than emergencies , a prescription is necessary.
Federal law prohibits dispensing without prescription.
State enforcement issues are unsettled. Most states having these regulations lack clear policy similar to the FDA's policy effectively exempting emergency oxygen administration from its regulatory requirements. States classifying oxygen as a prescriptive drug generally require oxygen to be administered by a physician or under the authority of a physician's prescription. Few state regulations explicitly address emergency first aid oxygen administration, or providers of all types. If your local gas suppliers won't fill your oxygen cylinder without a prescription, regardless of your training, you still have a couple of options.