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Pulse oxometer how to#

If you are using someone else’s pulse oximeter, make sure to clean it thoroughly both before and after using it.Īs you can see, although pulse oximeters can be a bit finicky, if you choose the right finger, if it is warm, you are sitting and not in motion, and if it fits right, you shouldn’t have any problems getting accurate readouts.The pulse oximeter provides regular non-invasive measurements of blood oxygenation and is used in a wide range of clinical settings.Pulse oximeters will not work correctly if you are wearing nail polish or anything else of the sort.Remember, it needs to be tight enough to really see what is happening in your finger, but not to the point that it cuts off blood flow, as that will obviously impact readings.

On that same note, a pulse oximeter should feel reasonably tight, but not so tight that it cuts off blood flow.

Insert your finger as far as it can go without causing the device to be open or in a nearly open position.

Ensure that you have a pulse oximeter with a high-quality finger chamber, preferably one made of silicone, and one that comes with a little spring to ensure that it stays in place.

Do not take readings while standing up, and do not take readings while you are moving.

The best way to take pulse oximeter readings is when you are sitting down.

Excessive cold can negatively impact readings, both due to the temperature and due to limited blood flow.

Always warm your fingers before using a pulse oximeter.

Let’s go over some additional tips on using a pulse oximeter so you can achieve the most accurate results. You can then remove the probe once you have saved or recorded the reading.

Turn the pulse oximeter on and wait for it to produce readings, which should take no longer than 10 or 15 seconds.

Being either too loose or too tight will negatively impact results.

Insert your finger into the pulse oximeter, making sure that it is in there snugly, although not too tight.

Although it probably doesn’t make a big difference in the grand scheme of things, just to be safe, go with the middle finger on your right hand.

Choose a finger to clip the pulse oximeter onto.

You also need to ensure that you have a model that is appropriate for your size of fingers. Also, ensure that the batteries have enough power left in them to produce accurate readings.

Make sure that your pulse oximeter is not damaged.

This is the proper procedure for using a pulse oximeter, so your results will be as accurate as possible.

Pulse oxometer how to#

Therefore, let’s move on and discuss tips on how to use these lifesaving devices the proper way. What it really all comes down to is how the pulse oximeter is used.Īs long as these devices are used properly, which finger you choose is virtually irrelevant. In some cases, there were no differences.

These studies and others also confirmed that unless there are extenuating circumstances, the difference from one finger to another was negligible. What is really surprising is that these same studies also showed that as many as 80% of healthcare practitioners using these devices routinely attach the pulse oximeter to the index finger of the right hand. Both of these tend to produce the most accurate results. In second place is the thumb on your right hand.

Various studies have shown that the best finger to take SpO2 measurements is the right hand’s middle finger. You might think that all of your ten fingers are the same, especially when it comes to things like blood oxygen saturation monitoring.