On Thursday, September 26, 2013 11:49:23 PM UTC-4, Eric Greenwell wrote:
wrote, On 9/26/2013 12:10 PM:

On Monday, September 23, 2013 2:39:28 PM UTC-8, JohnDeRosa wrote:

On Monday, September 23, 2013 12:56:34 PM UTC-5, Vaughn wrote:

Fly one with with a pulse oximeter ($39.99 at Walmart) to verify

that it works for you... Vaughn Actually only $35 at Walmart.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Choicemmed...r-1ct/17325061





Pulse oximeters are poor indicators of O2 saturation for glider

pilots. Peripheral (as in fingers)vaso-constriction is common at the

temperature and altitudes we fly. I used one for a few years and was

over consuming Oxygen in an effort to keep the saturation above 95%.

I use a EDS delivery system and consistantly got values of around 86%

when above 6000 feet. I actually went to a Pulmonologist to see

what, if anything, was wrong with my lungs and found that my lung

capacity and ventilation were above normal. So I tossed out the

oximeter and just trust the equipment to deliver the right amount of

O2. So far so good.



Since I can keep O2 saturation above 95% at even 18000' using the normal

EDS settings, does that mean I have excellent circulation? Or really

good lung function?



It does drop into the 90-95% range sometimes, but that's also when I

realize my breathing is very shallow; i.e., I don't seem to be inhaling

very much after I hear the "poosh" of the EDS oxygen pulse.



--

Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to

email me)

- "Transponders in Sailplanes - Feb/2010" also ADS-B, PCAS, Flarm

http://tinyurl.com/yb3xywl

I think it probably means you are in good health and have good equipment and procedures.

I've experience hyperventilation induced hypoxia. You will feel horrible. Tingling extremities, headache, and yeah... a fingertip pulse ox reading of 92 - 95%.

Unmentioned so far... hypoxia comes with tachycardia. So when you see 92%+ saturation but 110 - 120 pulse rate, there's your confirmation. If you have a decent quality (e.g. Nonin) pulse ox, you see a strong pulse indication, high saturation, pulse below 90 and you feel normal and alert, you are doing it right.

-Evan Ludeman / T8