Pulse Ox at Wal-Mart

[TraprMike]

Once had a scenario in my EMT class and it looked like there might be carbon monoxide exposure, but we didn't have a meter with us. I suggested we get an elderly COPD patient with a low baseline SPO2, hook up a pulseox meter, and send him in. If it goes up, we have carbon monoxide.

And who says EMTs can't come up with creative solutions to problems....


PS: On the scenario, we were like the third or fourth unit being sent in, and none of the earlier units were answering radios, so I had already refused to enter the premises.

this is great!.. I'm using this sometime..

 

[Shishkabob]

Trust me... we were all very much aware of his medical history. He was a smoker and on home O2 and had the general COPD'er appearance. He was just a little coo-coo about the pulse oximeter.

I was directing that toward Jay

 

[18G]

I know... me too

 

[socalmedic]

Once had a scenario in my EMT class and it looked like there might be carbon monoxide exposure, but we didn't have a meter with us. I suggested we get an elderly COPD patient with a low baseline SPO2, hook up a pulseox meter, and send him in. If it goes up, we have carbon monoxide.

And who says EMTs can't come up with creative solutions to problems....


PS: On the scenario, we were like the third or fourth unit being sent in, and none of the earlier units were answering radios, so I had already refused to enter the premises.

man we are living in the stone age, using Spo2 to diagnose CO poisoning. too bad no one has made a machine to measure CO levels in the blood. oh wait masimo made one, the rad 57. too bad it is way too complicated for a paramedic to use, at least that is what the CA medical director think of us LINK. good thinking with the pulse ox though.

 

[TransportJockey]

Not only the masimo, but zoll now has integrated co oximetry in some of their monitors.

 

[goodgrief]

they make the little PO and CO machines all in one now. But you know us silly emts and medics, the directors are sure we will mess it up....


:glare:

 

[Jay]

Believe it or not this little gizmo from CVS works great and is under $50:

http://www.cvs.com/CVSApp/catalog/s...4&navAction=push&navCount=3&no_new_crumb=true

 

[Sasha]

Just happened to come across these while browsing on Wal-Mart's website... I didn't realize pulse oximeters were being sold to the general public... especially for only $59.00.

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=13370488&findingMethod=rr#ShortReviewTitleBar

The ones in our truck only cost $25.

 

[jjesusfreak01]

Not only the masimo, but zoll now has integrated co oximetry in some of their monitors.

The LP15s have Masimo sensors, so you can buy the rainbow sensors that do SPO2 and SPCO if you want.

 

[usalsfyre]

This is enough to give me serious pause as to the Masimo COximeter. Small study I'll give you, but the number of false negatives is uhhh, concerning to say the least :blink: .

 

[medicRob]

$59?! I bought one for $30 off of Amazon and use it fairly often.... mainly because my company refuses to supply all Paramedic rigs with them and I got fed up with looking stupid at bringing a respiratory patient to the ED without an SpO2...

I keep one in my vehicle.. I don't have a huge whacker kit or anything, but I do keep a blood pressure cuff, stethoscope, and a pulse ox.