What is a key indicator of a full medical gas cylinder?

A key indicator of a full medical gas cylinder is the pressure gauge reading. Medical gas cylinders are equipped with pressure gauges that display the current pressure within the cylinder. When the cylinder is full, the pressure reading will be at or near the maximum level indicated on the gauge, which corresponds to the cylinder’s capacity for that specific gas.

Other methods for assessing the cylinder's status, such as the color of the cylinder or the presence of a protective cap, can provide supplemental information about the type of gas and safety, but they do not reliably indicate fullness. Similarly, while the weight of a cylinder is important for transport and handling, the actual weight does not give an accurate measure of fullness since the weight varies depending on the construction of the cylinder and the amount of gas it contains. The pressure gauge is specifically designed to provide this crucial information directly related to the capacity of the gas present.