Home made O2 systems, AOPA article

[Ron B.]

After over twenty years flying low altitude, 172 s SuperCub etc, we got our RV-10 flying last summer. We have a long way to go before thinking about supplemental oxygen. Having not even seen a supplemental system installed other than at air show exhidits can some one discribe how one is used? Or where to look for such information. How does a pulse oxymeter work? Does it take a blood sample like diabetics, pick your finger(I would doubt)?
Someone can place my post in another thread if this is not the place for it, as I don't want to hyjack this one, but I thought a lot of knowledgeable pilots would be following this thread.
Ron

[Sig600]

A pulse oxymeter is just a little clip that goes on your finger. It shines an LED light through your finger and through PFM figures out your pulse and oxygen saturation. A great tool no doubt, but high altitude hypoxia training is invaluable.

[Jerry Cochran]

I wish one of our physicians would weigh in here on the Oximeter thing... A few here have said anything below 90% saturation is bad and I would love to see the official source for that. It would seem to me to depend on lot on one's age, physical condition, etc.

Dr's... are you there?

[Jerry Cochran]

I found this article http://www.ehow.com/facts_5011784_wh...y-reading.html

...and it too has the 90% deal with the proviso "at sea level" so guess that does not answer the question of what a normal reading is at altitude. Maybe we can ask the US Airforce?

Hopefully there is a Doc out there, maybe a Pulmonologist that could weigh in?

[bkilby]

Here's what some others' oxygen saturation levels are from another thread:
http://www.vansairforce.com/communit...gen+saturation

[Phil]

I read that article and it was both sobering and enlightening.

You don't know what you don't know. I've often thought about building my own but I'm sticking with a MH system in the 10.

Phil

[rv7charlie]

OK, why did this thread open with 'be afraid if you home-build an oxygen system', citing someone who crashed while using one, without mentioning that the guy ran out of oxygen?

Isn't that a bit like saying 'don't fly with mogas' because someone ran out of gas while flying on mogas?

Or the NTSB citing as the cause of an accident that 'the pilot failed to maintain altitude' without mentioning the failure of the single engine that was powering the plane?

I started reading expecting to learn useful info that I didn't already know. I doubt that there's anyone here that thinks it's ok to fly at 20K+ feet & run out of oxygen.

Charlie

[n981ms]

I am a Family Practitioner not a pulmonologist.
I also fly below the need for oxygen and have never measured a Pulse ox in the air but FWIW:

normal ground based values are 97-99.
With age and particularly copd we often see folks down in the 80s.
I think the requirement for medicare to cover home O2 is 88 or below at rest.
Oximeter accuracy degrades rapidly with lower values.

Maxwell

[PCHunt]

Originally Posted by rv7charlie

OK, why did this thread open with 'be afraid if you home-build an oxygen system', citing someone who crashed while using one, without mentioning that the guy ran out of oxygen?

Isn't that a bit like saying 'don't fly with mogas' because someone ran out of gas while flying on mogas?

Or the NTSB citing as the cause of an accident that 'the pilot failed to maintain altitude' without mentioning the failure of the single engine that was powering the plane?

I started reading expecting to learn useful info that I didn't already know. I doubt that there's anyone here that thinks it's ok to fly at 20K+ feet & run out of oxygen.

Charlie

What Charlie Said!

Don't just read the headlines........... there's always more to the story!

[Flying EMT]

First, you got to be careful with a pulse-ox. It mesures hemoglobins in the blood, but will give you a false reading in the presence of CO. I've had fire victims with a pulse ox in the nineties but actual blood gasses MUCH lower. Also, you get what you pay for, the one piece finger clamps always read lower for me. In the street, anyone with a reading below mid 90's gets oxygen therapy. It does depend on your circulation, heavy smokers will read lower (we'll put the sensor on the earlobe to get a better reading on them) All Info FWIW.