Covid Crisis: Center Issues 9 Step Guide To Help Monitor Oxygen Saturation At Home

Oxygen saturation is the amount of oxygen in the blood of a human body. For adults, the oxygen saturation in blood should stay around 95 to 100 per cent.

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New Delhi: As India faces a shortage of supply amid the surging cases in the country, which is why it is essential Covid effected patients to monitor their health and unless they are facing very serious symptoms to not rush to hospitals but instead self isolate at home. 

Keeping an oximeter at home at this time is good idea. The Centre shared a step-by-step guide on how to keep track of blood oxygen levels of a Covid-19 patient to understand if there is any need for hospitalisation so that the hospitals do not get overwhelmed. 

What is Oxygen Saturation?

Oxygen saturation is the amount of oxygen present in the blood of a human body which helps it function efficiently. For adults, the oxygen saturation in blood should stay around 95 to 100 per cent. However, if it falls under 90, then it is known as 'hypoxemia'. If the saturation level is below 80, the human organs like the heart and brain might stop functioning properly which could lead to failure of respiratory organs or cardiac arrest. Oxygen binds with the element haemoglobin which carries the oxygen through the bloodstream to each cell of your body.

The pulse oximeter is used to measure the oxygen level (oxygen saturation) of the blood. But do you know how does it work? Take a look! #IndiaFightsCorona pic.twitter.com/YAToaH8hIq

— MyGovIndia (@mygovindia) April 24, 2021

9 Easy Steps To Monitor Yourself:

1. Before clipping the oximeter, make sure you remove fake nails or nail polish from your fingers. If your hands are called warm them by rubbing your palms together. 
2. Prior to taking the measurement, one should rest for at least five minutes and settle. 
3. Rest your hand on your chest at heart level and hold it still.
4. Then switch on the oximeter and place it on either the middle or the index finger.
5. The reading may fluctuate, wait for it to be stable. Keep the oximeter in place for at least a minute or longer if the reading is not stable.
6. Record the highest result once it has not changed for five seconds.
7. Identify each recording carefully.
8. Start recording from baseline and record three times a day at the same time.
9. Call 1075 or a hospital if you feel shortness of breath while trying to complete short sentences, you feel seriously ill or if your oximeter reading is 92% or lesser.