How Do You Measure Your Own Oxygen Saturation And When Is It Time To Go To The Hospital? This Is The Explanation Of The Minister Of Health

ILLUSTRA TION / VOI

JAKARTA - Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin considers it important to measure oxygen saturation in the respiratory tract when exposed to COVID-19.

There is a way you can do it yourself. In general, the saturation limit is normal if you breathe less than 20 times a minute. Budi explained, we can count the number of breaths for 15 seconds.

"We measure 15 seconds, how much. If it's below 5 times it's still okay. If 15 seconds is already 8 or 9 times panting, that's dangerous," said Minister of Health Budi in a webinar discussion, Monday, August 2.

When they are out of breath as described, they have to look for an oxygen saturation measuring device, namely an oximeter at a price of around Rp. 200 thousand.

Normally, the breath saturation measured by this device shows a range between 95-99 percent.

If they don't get an oximeter, people can ask for help with measurements at the puskesmas. "Ask to the puskesmas. We will start distributing it to the puskesmas, the important thing is not to get below 94," said Budi.

Meanwhile, if the oxygen saturation is below 94, Budi asks to go directly to a health care facility for treatment.

Meanwhile, if the oxygen saturation is above 94 percent, Budi considers that COVID-19 self-isolation patients at home can recover without needing to be treated at a referral hospital.

"But once it's below 94 percent, don't wait any longer, go straight to the puskesmas, go directly to a doctor or immediately move to centralized isolation so that there are nurses who take care of it. Don't leave it at home, because it can make our brother die," explained the Minister of Health.