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                                                         SEC FILE NUMBER
                                                            333-56135
                                                  ------------------------------
                                                           CUSIP NUMBER

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                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                                   FORM 12b-25

                           NOTIFICATION OF LATE FILING

(Check One): [X] Form 10-K   [_] Form 20-F  [_] Form 11-K
             [_] Form 10-Q   [_] Form N-SAR

                For Period Ended: December 31, 2001
                                  ------------------
               [_]  Transition Report on Form 10-K
               [_]  Transition Report on Form 20-F
               [_]  Transition Report on Form 11-K
               [_]  Transition Report on Form 10-Q
               [_]  Transition Report on Form N-SAR
               For the Transition Period Ended: ________________________________

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  Read Instruction (on back page) Before Preparing Form. Please Print or Type.
    Nothing in this form shall be construed to imply that the Commission has
                   verified any information contained herein.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If the notification relates to a portion of the filing checked above, identify
the Item(s) to which the notification relates:

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PART I -- REGISTRANT INFORMATION

   Hudson Respiratory Care Inc.
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Full Name of Registrant

   N/A
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Former Name if Applicable

   27711 Diaz Road P.O. Box 9020
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Address of Principal Executive Office (Street and Number)

   Temecula, CA 92589-9020
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City, State and Zip Code

PART II -- RULES 12b-25(b) AND (c)

If the subject report could not be filed without unresonable effort or expense
and the registrant seeks relief pursuant to Rule 12b-25(b), the following should
be completed. (Check box if appropriate)

        (a)   The reasons described in reasonable detail in Part III of this
              Form could not be eliminated without unreasonable effort or
              expense;
        (b)   The subject annual report, semi-annual report, transition report
              on Form 10-K, Form 20-F, 11-K or
[X]           Form N-SAR, or portion thereof, will be filed on or before the
              fifteenth calendar day following the prescribed due date; or the
              subject quarterly report of transition report on Form 10-Q, or
              portion thereof will be filed on or before the fifth calendar day
              following the prescribed due date; and
        (c)   The accountant's statement or other exhibit required by Rule
              12b-25(c) has been attached if applicable.

PART III -- NARRATIVE

State below in reasonable detail the reasons why the Forms 10-K, 20-F, 11-K,
10-Q, N-SAR, or the transition report or portion thereof, could not be filed
within the prescribed time period.
               See Attachment III.

                                 Potential persons who are to respond to the
(Attach Extra Sheets if Needed)  collection of information contained in this
                                 form are not required to respond unless the
                                 form displays a currently valid OMB control
                                 number.



PART IV--OTHER INFORMATION

(1)   Name and telephone number of person to contact in regard to this
      notification

          Luke D. Thompson                 213                  229-8427
      ------------------------      ------------------    --------------------
               (Name)                   (Area Code)        (Telephone Number)

(2)   Have all other periodic reports required under Section 13 or 15(d) of the
      Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 30 of the Investment Company
      Act of 1940 during the preceding 12 months or for such shorter period that
      the registrant was required to file such report(s) been filed? If answer
      is no, identify report(s).                              [_] Yes [X] No
      Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2000,
      -----------------------------------------------------------------------
      Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2001 and
      -----------------------------------------------------------------------
      Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2001
      -----------------------------------------------------------------------

(3)   Is it anticipated that any significant change in results of operations
      from the corresponding period for the last fiscal year will be reflected
      by the earnings statements to be included in the subject report or portion
      thereof?                                                [X] Yes [_] No

      If so, attach an explanation of the anticipated change, both narratively
      and quantitatively, and, if appropriate, state the reasons why a
      reasonable estimate of the results cannot be made.

                See Attachment IV.
================================================================================

                          Hudson Respiratory Care Inc.
                 -----------------------------------------------
                  (Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

has caused this notification to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned
hereunto duly authorized.


Date     April 2, 2002                        By   /s/ Patrick Yount
      -----------------                          -------------------------------
                                                    Patrick Yount
                                                    Chief Financial Officer


INSTRUCTION: The form may be signed by an executive officer of the registrant
or, by any other duly authorized representative. The name and title of the
person signing the form shall be typed or printed beneath the signature. If the
statement is signed on behalf of the registrant by an authorized representative
(other than an executive officer), evidence of the representative's authority to
sign on behalf of the registrant shall be filed with the form.

- -------------------------------- ATTENTION -------------------------------------
   Intentional misstatements or omissions of fact constitute Federal Criminal
                        Violations (See 18 U.S.C. 1001).
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                              GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

1.    This form is required by Rule 12b-25 (17 CFR 240.12b-25) of the General
      Rules and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

2.    One signed original and four conformed copies of this form and amendments
      thereto must be completed and filed with the Securities and Exchange
      Commission, Washington, D.C. 20549, in accordance with Rule 0-3 of the
      General Rules and Regulations under the Act. The information contained in
      or filed with the form will be made a matter of public record in the
      Commission files.

3.    A manually signed copy of the form and amendments thereto shall be filed
      with each national securities exchange on which any class of securities of
      the registrant is registered.

4.    Amendments to the notifications must also be filed on form 12b-25 but need
      not restate information that has been correctly furnished. The form shall
      be clearly identified as an amended notification.

5.    Electronic Filers. This form shall not be used by electronic filers unable
      to timely file a report solely due to electronic difficulties. Filers
      unable to submit a report within the time period prescribed due to
      difficulties in electronic filing should comply with either

SEC 1344 (7-00)

                                        2



Rule 201 or Rule 202 of Regulation S-T ((S)232.202 of this chapter) or apply for
an adjustment in filing date pursuant to Rule 13(b) of Regulation S-T
((S)232.13(b) of this chapter).

                                       3



                                 ATTACHMENT III
                                 --------------

Hudson Respiratory Care Inc. (the "Company") is not able to file its Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2001 because the
Company has not yet completed the financial statements for the period covered by
the report. The Company changed its certifying public accountant in January
2002.

                                 ATTACHMENT IV
                                 -------------

The Company anticipates that its expenses to be reflected on its consolidated
financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2001 will be
substantially greater than such items reported for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2000. The increase in expenses is primarily related to (i) growth
in the Company's existing business and (ii) increases in reserves associated
with accounts receivable and inventory, expenses associated with the write-down
of certain fixed assets and severance and other related expenses associated with
the relocation and closure of manufacturing and distribution facilities. Final
amounts for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2001 cannot be quantified at this
time.