These instructions from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia are for patients prescribed pulse oximeter to monitor oxygen levels and heart rate at home.

Important information about pulse oximeters:

Your child's healthcare provider has ordered a pulse oximeter to monitor your child's heart rate and blood oxygen levels at home. No blood samples are needed. The pulse oximeter includes a machine and a probe. The probe has a tiny light on a piece of tape, which wraps around your child's toe, foot or finger. The sensor uses light and electrical signals to measure their heart rate and oxygen level.

Patient instructions:

Your child’s healthcare provider will tell you when to use the pulse oximeter at home. Instructions will include:

• Use the pulse oximeter all the time or use the pulse oximeter a few times a day.
• The alarm limits set by your healthcare provider.
• Do not change the alarm limits unless directed by your healthcare provider.

A representative from your home care company will teach you how to use the pulse oximeter and how to respond to the alarms. Listed below are some basic steps to get started:

1. Place the pulse oximeter probe on your child’s toe, foot or finger.
2. Wrap probe so that it is secure, but not too tight.  
3. The red light needs to be directly across from the sensor.
4. Connect the probe to the pulse ox machine.
5. Plug in the machine.
6. Set the alarms as ordered by your child's health care provider.
7. Use the pulse ox whenever your child is asleep or alone in a room, or as ordered by your healthcare provider.
8. Check the skin under the probe daily to prevent skin breakdown.  
9. Change the probe site at least three times a day.

Pulse oximeter alarms

• Check your child first, not the monitor.
• Check your child's color, breathing, and heart rate.
• If your child is not breathing and has no pulse, begin CPR and call 911.
• If your child is fine, reset the alarm, check probe placement and make sure that machine is working properly.
• Check alarm settings each time you turn the machine on.
• If the alarms continue to sound, check your child as you were taught.

If you have any questions about your child’s health, please contact your child’s healthcare provider. This document is intended only to provide general educational information and is not intended as medical advice or treatment. Please consult with your healthcare provider prior to use, as some of this information may need to be adapted for your child’s specific needs. It is the responsibility of your healthcare provider to advise you on the appropriate use of this information. If you/your child are not already a CHOP patient, this document does not create a doctor-patient relationship between you/your child and CHOP. CHOP is not responsible for any outcomes you/your child might experience from your use of this document. This document is provided "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, express or implied. If this document refers to any drugs or medical devices, it is the responsibility of your healthcare provider to check the FDA status prior to use. If this document includes references to drug dosing, please do not rely on this document. Your healthcare provider should check the package insert for each drug before use. Hyperlinks used within this document may not be translated into other languages.

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