Our Nonin Onyx Finger Pulse Oximeters are noninvasive instruments that measure the oxygen content of arterial blood and heart rate. They are used prophylactically to help detect altitude problems early on, or to monitor a patient during or after Gamow Bag treatment. While the Nonin readings vary some, they do provide one more piece of information related to a person’s acclimatization and how well his or her body may be adapting to the current altitude. This information can then be used as necessary, to decide if a climber or trekker should continue the ascent, or descend for safety and health reasons. Prevention, early recognition and descent is the best solution for most altitude illness ailments.

Many thanks to Chinook Medical Gear for their assistance with our medical gear!

For more information and background on high altitude illness, prevention and treatment, we recommend the following books:

Bezruchka, Steve. Altitude Illness: Prevention & Treatment. 1994. (Read this!)

Houston, Charles. Going Higher: The Story of Man and Altitude. 1987.

To purchase a Gamow Bag or oxygen saturation meter, please contact Chinook Medical Gear for more information.