AIIMS Director Dr Guleria on Oxygen crisis : Don’t waste oxygen if saturation level is 94%

According to AIIMS director Dr Randeep Guleria, even if one's oxygen saturation level is 92 to 94 percent, there's no need to panic. Experts said that oxygen therapy is more important than ventilation for Covid-19 care in a webinar hosted by AIIMS on Wednesday, emphasizing that oxygen therapy is more important than ventilation because more people on oxygen therapy will be brought back to life.

But it's also crucial to conserve oxygen and avoid overusing it. It's pointless to try to raise someone's oxygen saturation to 98 or 99 percent if it's about 95 percent.

"An oxygen saturation level of about 94 percent indicates that your body has enough oxygen.

Also Read: COVID-19 Oxygen Crisis: Do you know the difference between oxygen concentrator and oxygen cylinder? Find out here

When we used to do prolonged oxygen therapy for people with lung disorders, we saw people doing well at even 88 percent oxygen saturation. Oxygen saturation levels of 92 or 93 should not be regarded as dangerous. "However, this is a safe zone where you can seek medical attention without feeling panicked," Dr. Guleria said.

Experts have highlighted the importance of testing oxygen saturation 15 minutes after resting and consulting a doctor only if there is a prolonged drop in the level, rather than a one-time dip, since the reading may be affected by posture.

Is it necessary to purchase oxygen cylinders for home use? In response to this issue, Dr. Guleria said that people are stocking up on oxygen cylinders at home without understanding how to use them properly. Waste can result from improper handling.

"One common example of oxygen wastage is when patients are given food and remove the oxygen mask and place it to the side without disconnecting the attachment," Dr. Guleria explained.