Pulse Oximeter Saves Joplin From EF-5 Tornado

Tornado alley has been known for its dangerous tornados for many years now. The death toll in the states within tornado alley is most likely in the thousands with damage in the multiple billions over the years. This year is no stranger to tornados, and by some standards it has been worse than average. The most recent area to be hit hard was Joplin, Missouri. Joplin was hit by a EF-5 tornado on May 22, 2011. The storm left tons of homes, offices, and even hospitals in ruins, while killing many. There still are eight people missing. The efforts for search and rescue have been working around the clock to get help to the people who need it most. The hundreds of people, who have been left homeless, are surviving day to day either with family in the area or in shelters. These shelters need to maintain a high level of health standards. This would not only include sanitation, but also monitoring of the health of survivors. Due to the traumatic events that lead following the tornado, many people are emotionally stressed over lost property and loved ones. Therefore, it is critical to monitor the vital signs of these survivors in order to avoid any probable health related illnesses caused by stress.

There are many different tools used by health professionals to monitor the health of patients. These tools range in size and complexity. One new medical device or tool that been introduced to the market is a pulse oximeter. A pulse oximeter, also known as a pulse ox by some health professionals, is a device used to measure the blood oxygen saturation and pulse rate of an individual. An oximeter has been around for many years, but in a form which was only suitable for clinical settings. Nowadays, a fingertip pulse oximeter is smaller than most cell phones and run on standard batteries which are found at your local store. A new oximeter is designed to simply clip onto one’s fingertip, and provide readings within seconds. It is available in different screens. One being color, while the standard is a black and white. The color screen oximeters were not as popular at first due to cost, but as their popularity grew, their cost has been falling.

A pulse oximeter has been used in Joplin since the events of the tornado. It has proven to be mobile and accurate, while at the same time extremely cost effective.