Pulse Oximeter Aids Arizona Wild Fires

Arizona has been struck with the second worst wildfire in the state’s history. The fire has left a vast area of the state in ruins, and continues to threaten other towns. Thousands of people have been evacuated by the order of the fire department. A constant watch of the weather conditions keeps a close eye on humidity levels and wind strength and direction. Over the past few days, wind gusts have been ranging from 30 to 40 miles per hour, which has aided in the wildfire’s spread. As of right now, the wind is stabilized at about 10-20 miles per hour. Fire departments still warn people that fire can easily still spread with winds in the 15 miles per hour range. Many hundreds of fire fighters from all over the country have take on the challenge to fight Arizona’s wild fire, and they have been working all around the clock. Fighting a wild fire has its own set of health risks for fire fighters. A wild fire that feeds on natural vegetation heats the surrounding area and fills it with a smoke or fog like substances. This environment poses various challenges for fire fighters. They eyes and lungs are in constant risk of exposure.

The risks that fire fighters face in regards to respiratory illnesses are great. That is why they must go through yearly tests of their lungs. These tests are designed to determine how efficient their lungs are and how much stress they can handle. To be able to track how one’s lungs are functioning, fire departments have adopted the use of a pulse oximeter. A pulse oximeter, also known as a pulse ox by some medical professionals, is a medical device used to measure blood oxygen saturation and pulse rate of an individual. Fire departments throughout the country have been purchasing a new type of oximeter, one that clips onto one’s fingertip, and is small enough to fit into one’s pocket. A finger oximeter is designed to run on standard triple A batteries and comes with a color OLED screen which makes its screen visible in all environments.

The fire fighters in Arizona have all been issued a finger oximeter to carry with them while on the job. They have been trained to take their oxygen saturation readings at set intervals, which are used to keep track of their respiratory health. There is great property loss with the wild fires, but with certain tools we can limit the loss of life.