The Importance of Pulse Oximeters for Paramedics

Accidents may happen to anyone, at anytime, anywhere, which is why knowledge on first aid will help a person which is the first course of action take during critical circumstances. But when we do not know how to react to an emergency situation, we immediate call for emergency medical services.

The Role of Paramedics

Every now and then, large numbers of people seek emergency care for serious life-threatening situations, such as heart attack, stroke, acute respiratory distress, as well as trauma. Hence, we require people who have a more advanced skill in providing life support and acute medical care to any person needing it, this include the auxiliary services rendered by paramedics.

Paramedics are medical personnel who offer a high-level of assessment and pre-hospital management at any emergency scenarios. They are usually found in ambulances or disaster units responding to emergency calls. And just like physicians, they are educated on how to treat patients during crisis periods.

But before they will be able to render medical care to their patients, paramedics should assess the condition first. To do this, they have to utilize various equipment for examination. This is very crucial because the management of the patient will depend on the outcome of the assessment. In today’s time, one of the most important equipment to yield in-depth information of the condition of the patient is the pulse oximeter.

Emergency Pulse Oximetry

The oxygenation status of a person is difficult to determine through observation alone. A more reliable means would either be drawing a patient’s blood sample, or by using a pulse oximeter. Compared to drawing blood samples, the latter is a non-invasive method of measuring the oxygen saturation of the blood that yields almost equally reliable information as with the former. In the EMS system, there is no doubt that the pulse oximeter may serve for several functions.

A pulse oximeter is a device that consists of a probe that is usually placed on a person’s finger to read the amount of oxygen present in the blood. Traditionally, it is used to detect hypoxemia, a condition in the blood where there is low oxygen, specifically an O₂ saturation below 90%. This is dangerous as low blood oxygen levels may result to irreversible brain damage and consequently, death. By knowing such, trained medical personnel will understand when to provide oxygen therapy as necessary.

Because of its capacity to determine oxygen perfusion, the pulse oximeter too may help assess the circulation at certain points of the body, such as the limbs. This is incredibly useful in cases of injury to the extremities where the pulse is not palpable.

Whether it is for one-time or for continuous use, the pulse oximeter is also a great means to cut costs for acute medical care. By performing pulse oximetry, a paramedic will know the real-time oxygenation status of a person and subsequently determine if there is a need for supplemental oxygen.

Things to consider

However, before using one, it is also important to consider what type of device you have as well as its features because there are certain factors that may interfere with getting an accurate reading. Presently, there are several types of pulse oximeters available. Some may include a bulky table unit that houses the display and alarm systems which is suitable for hospital or bedside use. Other models are handheld types that can the user can simply carry around. The latest variety comprises of only a fingertip probe with a small display incorporated on the unit.

Motion-resistance

For a paramedic who is always on the move, it is essential that the pulse oximeter must offer portability and speed in relaying the results while maintaining accuracy.

Most of the time, pulse oximeters can be very sensitive to motion. This means that the user’s movements may interfere with getting a precise SpO₂ reading. Therefore, a suitable pulse oximeter to be used must have a motion-resistant capacity.

Appropriate Display

Visibility of the results is always an important consideration for every medical device. In some environments where audible alarms may not be heard, paramedics shall rely on visual cues elicited from the pulse oximeter. As much as possible, the display panel should not strain the user’s eye for him to read the results.

Fast Reading

Emergency responders are always battling with time. Hence, devices that must be used should be able to yield results in a timely manner. The same goes for a pulse oximeter. The good thing is that newer pulse oximeters are fast and easy to use, and they usually take only a few seconds to get a reading.