Buy a pulse oximeter!

[PurpleFlower1983]

Covid: How a £20 gadget could save lives

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-55733527

I have had first hand experience of this, my otherwise healthy 41 year old husband is currently in critical care on oxygen support. He’s getting there now but there have been scary moments. We only knew his oxygen levels were dangerously low because of this machine. Buy one if you can.

That Which? article is from last May and seems to be rather out of date now, and not in line with the current NHS/public health advice, eg www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/2020/12/C0719_COVID-Isolating-at-Home-Safety-Netting-Leaflet-Revised-FINAL-171220.pdf

I’m surprised Which? haven’t done an update.

Sorry, Redsquirrel, I hadn’t read your second post properly.

I've ordered one so will use that instead of my phone, thanks to those who have posted advice

@SparklingLime

That Which? article is from last May and seems to be rather out of date now, and not in line with the current NHS/public health advice, eg www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/2020/12/C0719_COVID-Isolating-at-Home-Safety-Netting-Leaflet-Revised-FINAL-171220.pdf

I’m surprised Which? haven’t done an update.

No funnily enough they've just reposted it on Facebook which made me come back to this thread. It's still the same version though!

We bought one a few days ago. My oxygen is measuring 100.

In November 2019 my DD was coughing every second. Every second, little coughs. Constantly for over 24 hours. GP wasn't interested.

A neighbour lent me her oximeter and DDs oxygen was at 88. I called NHS Scotland and they immediately asked her to go to an out of hours appointment (as it was that time by then).

So glad to have our own one. Not just for the pandemic but also because I think (for us) it's an important part of our first aid kit.

Please can I ask a question?

How would you clean a thermometer and oximeter thoroughly after without causing damage to them please?

Thank you to those who were kind and posted links to reviews

I thought there would have been a bit of a run on them, and was expecting to have to wait, but Amazon still have plenty for sale and I have ordered one

I'm not sure I'd ever think to clean an oximeter. We have an ear thermometer which has disposable covers.

@FrogFairy

Please can I ask a question?

How would you clean a thermometer and oximeter thoroughly after without causing damage to them please?

I use alcohol based disinfectant wipes

www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/2020/06/Pulse-Oximeter-Easy-Read-final-online-v3.pdf

Not sure if this has been shared yet.

Ignore that, someone has already posted a more up to date version.

@ButtonMoonLoon thank you for your reply.

I want to buy both but I have close relatives who won’t pay to buy their own so hope to lend them mine if they get ill.

Mine arrived today - seems to take ages to get a reading but told me consistently that my count was 98 and my DHs 96.