Pilots have known the need for monitoring this oxygen levels for almost a hundred years now
. As aircraft climb in altitude, the oxygen levels drop. This is a very dangerous effect if not counteracted. For this reason, it is necessary for pilots in the navy and air force has oxygen masks. It is also necessary for commercial airlines to train their employees on the use of supplemental oxygen. This training includes the procedures for supplying supplemental oxygen for passengers in the event of an emergency. Oxygen masks are not provided for aviation pilots on commercial airlines, because of the general design and set up on commercial airliners. For this reason, a pulse oximeter has become a great tool for pilots.
A pulse oximeter is a medical device used to measure the blood oxygen saturation level and pulse rate of an individual with the use of a laser beam to measure differences in wavelengths. A pulse oximeter, also known as a pulse ox by some, is used not only by pilots but also by athletes to measure their oxygen and pulse rate. New advances in technology have allowed pulse oximeters to vastly decrease in size while maintaining their accuracy. Since a pulse oximeter is now portable, pilots can easily stow away their oximeters in the compartments of the cabinet or even around their neck via the use of a lanyard. Pilots truly appreciate the fact that their pulse oximeter is easily accessible and provides fast and accurate readings on the go. In addition to pilots having a pulse oximeter, many commercial airlines have added a pulse oximeter to their on board medical kit. These medical kits include all medical tools needed in a medical emergency.