Emergency Action Message: A Blood Oxygen Meter Can Save You From Quarantine Infection

UPDATE 3/5/2020
THE CDC NOW  REQUIRES ALL PERSONS WHO VISIT ANY HEALTHCARE FACILITY WITH FLU SYMPTOMS TO SELF QUARANTINE UNTIL  ALL SYMPTOMS HAVE DISAPPEARED FOR ATLEAST 24 HOURS.

THIS IS BEING DONE BECAUSE THERE IS A HIGH RISK OF INFECTION AT HEALTH CARE FACILITIES, AND THERE IS A HIGH RISK THE VISTOR IS OR WILL BE INFECTED.

WE WOULD NOT VISIT ANY MEDICAL FACILITY UNLESS OUR BLOOD OXYGEN READINGS WERE BELOW 92%

Updated detail information at
https://pissinontheroses.blogspot.com/2020/03/cdc-says-doctors-visit-now-means-self.html
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An Oximeter may literally save your life during the Coronavirus outbreak.

We purchased these two oximeters:

https://amzn.to/2Pwo7qH (Worked on Adults and a 3 year old child)

https://amzn.to/381dTox (Not for smaller fingers)




If you can't use Amazon, or need one RIGHT NOW, the best readily locally available pulse oximeter can be found at Walgreens, the back of the Walgreen's box is marked "OxiWatch C20"; typical price is $50

We prefer the Innovo Deluxe oximeter $25 from Amazon https://amzn.to/2Pwo7qH the extra data/ graphs available on this model allowed us to get accurate readings from both adults and children as young as 3 years old.

A prudent person with an oximeter and respiratory symptoms should expect:

1)  Using telemedicine, your doctor will be able to rule out a suffocating COVID-19 pneumonia based on the Blood Oxygen level reading your oximeter provides, thusly saving you from a life threatening trip to a tent city full of infected persons

2)  If your oximeter data confirms life threating hypoxia; you will be able to calculate your own risk / reward tolerance for seeking treatment in a crowded isolation ward

3)  If treatment becomes unavailable, the oximeter will allow one to track whether their pneumonia is improving or deteriorating, and can provide feedback on the effectiveness of any at home treatments.

Persons who do not own an oximeter and seek treatment for cough + shortness of breath should expect:

1)  You will be designated as a suspected COVID-19 case

2)  You will be relocated for "treatment" with other COVID-19 infected individuals

3)  If you didn't have the infection, you will have it after being concentrated with infected individuals

Things to know about Over The Counter (OTC) and Prescription (Rx) Oximeters:

1) Finger tip oximeters work by shining red and infrared light into your finger, they're painless.

2)  Two research studies confirm OTC oximeters can reliably detect Hypoxia

3)  OTC oximeters are most accurate when blood oxygen saturation is greater then 90%

4)  An oximeter with Plethysmograph and Perfusion readings will allow you to achieve that most accurate blood oxygen readings (it helps gauge finger placement and reading quality)

5)  Almost ALL oximeters are made in China

6)  Do not expect oximeters to come back on the market until after all 1 Billion of China's population has had a chance to buy one.

7)  Expect any OTC meters that become available after the outbreak to be of dubious quality

8) The research data SEEMS to indicate that "Beijing Choice" aka ChoiceMMed makes OTC units that rival Rx units in accuracy down to 70% blood oxygen saturation.

9) "Beijing Choice" aka ChoiceMMed makes both Rx and OTC oximeters, the only obvious difference between the units is labeling

10) A 2nd Chinese company "Contec" also makes a OTC oximeter that seemingly fared favorably in the research data; however, detail analysis of FDA's records indicate this model is based on a "Beijing Choice" aka ChoiceMMed design.

11) Good quality OTC oximeters often cost in the neighborhood of $15-$30

12) The US Military's Rx oximeter deployed on battlefield is the Nonin Onyx® II 9550 Military Fingertip Pulse Oximeter at $300 (if you can find it)

Discussion:

While we share the emergency coronavirus risk mitigations actions we have taken, please do not consider any of the above information to be a recommendation. Consider your own risk mitigation decisions based on your own circumstances.

If you purchase any of the items via the Amazon links above, we will receive a "finder's fee". We use those funds to offset the coronavirus risk mitigation costs we have already undertaken.

A simple to understand explanation of what Pulse Oximeter's measure and their relation to the coronavirus can be found on Dr. John Campbell's Youtube channel at
https://youtu.be/YyMiSUfZtyU

We also use Energizer AAA lithium batteries in our oximeters, because they are light weight, won't leak or corrode, and should power an oximeter for over 100 hours of continuous use. https://amzn.to/3aberJZ

Our other coronavirus risk mitigation actions can be found in our previous posting:
URGENT! USA Expects COVID-19 Outbreak Is LIKELY To Last 5 YEARS

Source Data:

The Accuracy of 6 Inexpensive Pulse Oximeters Not Cleared by the Food and Drug Administration: The Possible Global Public Health Implications

Clinical Interpretation of Peripheral Pulse Oximeters Labeled “Not for Medical Use”

FDA's 510(k) Premarket Notification

Onyx® II 9550 Military Fingertip Pulse Oximeter