Are Pulse Oximeters Accurate in Flight?

[@trainboy1000]

I went in a normobaric chamber once for some high-altitude training. The instructors there said your sea level saturation is usually 95-100% depending on your health and other factors (like IMSAFE). 91% at 7,500 sounds reasonable to me. Recall the recommendation to fly below 5000' at night to avoid risk of visual impairment. In the normobaric chamber we were at an equivalent altitude of 30,000' and after about 3 minutes, most students were 60-70% saturated and completely impaired if not slipping unconscious. It's worth noting that hypoxia sets in slower in a normobaric chamber in comparison to a hypobaric chamber. We stayed at sea-level pressure as oxygen was scrubbed from the air, instead of entering a low-pressure environment.

[@kenerickson9142]

Best practice for using a pulse ox is: make sure your fingernail does not have anything on it making it opaque (including bruised), the light needs to go through your finger nail first and prevent as much outside light sources from shining on it as it is looking at small variations of red & infrared light going through your fingernail & finger. Also, cold fingers restrict blood flow so it may have difficulty providing an accurate reading so warm them up a minute if they are cold. Of course, try a different finger - even hand.

[@watashiandroid8314]

Interesting. Didn't know about the cold finger problem. Thanks.

[@TRabbit1970]

EDS’ commercial that showed a bunch of technicians building a commercial airplane in flight comes to mind….

[@charlesjackson7127]

Russ, after watching your videos, you have inspired me to get into my dream of buying a Long EZ but I am now leaning towards a Cozy. Any advice would be appreciated. Keep up the good work.

[@russroams]

Go for it!

[@FlyMeAirplane]

Here's something to try. I was at 12,500 for about 2 hours. Kinda felt a headache coming on. Measured my o2 levels and got a 87%. Then started some deep breathing and the o2 went up to 92%. I kept doing that for the next 2 hours and was fine. PS, I live at sea level. I really think shallow breathing is a problem.

[@russroams]

It’s interesting you said that because my buddy has the idea that a cpap machine which forces deep breathing may be a suitable replacement for o2

[@FlyMeAirplane]

I could see that helping at the lower altitudes like 12.5 to maybe 16? There is some new thing that generates o2 so people don't have to carry tanks around also.

[@watashiandroid8314]

Speculating here. Eighty something percent on the ground at sea level is probably bad and might indicate other medical issues which inhibit decision making. Maybe that's why your friend is told that a patient with that reading has to be administered care? KZbinr Martin Pauly has a video with an aviation medical guy who has some interesting takes on the supplemental oxygen requirements. I found it interesting. Basically he believes the change of %O2 from arriving at the airport to being at altitude is more important than the number itself. Did you check yourself on the ground before that flight where you got into the 80's? It would be alzo be interesting to see if you can recreate low readings with sunlight and/or placement on the finger. Extra tidbit: I also had wondered if a pulse ox can help detect CO poisoning and read that it actually falsely increases the %O2 reading.

[@donjohnston3776]

Get Igen G5 or G6 oxygen concentrator like Martin Pauley uses. It will meet the needs of 2 people. We tend to keep our mouth shut which reduces available air. Opening your mouth doesn't replace a concentrator. Using one will leave you less fatigued.

[@ITSFUNZ]

It’s called a Pulse Ox meter due to its ability to measure both at the same time ! You are correctly looking for your blood oxygen level ! Put a lot of time on the cheap version of these at the beginning of COVID and found them to be unreliable ! There is a real market for a good quality product for pilots !!!

[@OneAlphaMike]

I use an Apple Watch to check my blood oxygen level. Seems more accurate and consistent than the finger pulse oximeters I've owned.

[@russroams]

Is that so? I actually have one and will try it out thanks!

[@mshamrok]

hi Russ , what are the financial consequence you have to pay every year when you own cozy? vs value ? how long it will take to be registered after build?

[@AndyMatrix]

What is your consumption , speed at 75% in 7k ft? Thanks for the videos