Pulse Oximeters are used to check a patient’s oxygen saturation. While this is not a good indicator of a person’s respiratory system function, it is a good, simple way to judge the effectiveness of supplemental oxygen ordered by your doctor.

These units work by passing an infrared beam through your finger or toe and calculating the density of the blood. This figure is expressed as percentage of saturation. Average values are in the lower to mid 90s. Some patients will register in the upper nineties, but it is not a needed goal. If you are on oxygen, most patients will do well on the lower to mid nineties.

When using a Pulse Oximeter, you should try to use the same area to measure because these units depend on your blood circulation. When you switch sites you may change to an area with poor circulation and receive a lower reading.

*One cautionary note, these units are not designed to provide life saving alarms for home use. While they do have alarms for high and low readings for oxygen level and heart rate, never depend on them. If the patient requires life saving alarms there are other systems available.