Pharmacies see shortage in pulse oximeters
Experts say the rush is taking the product away from those who need them.

LANSING, Mich. (WILX) - Some pharmacies are seeing an uptick in people rushing to buy one item in particular: a pulse oximeter.
A pulse oximeter is a small device that measures the level of oxygen in the blood. Pharmacy owners say they usually sell one every few months, but when the pandemic started, that changed.
Because COVID-19 affects the respiratory system, customers started buying a pulse oximeter.
However, experts say that this rush is taking the product away from those who need them.
“If you are a patient who has chronic lung condition and need to check oxygen saturation on a regular basis because you are susceptible to requiring oxygen or patients who go into the hospital frequently for lung conditions, then you should have a pulse oximeter,” said pulmonologist Dr. Luis Pena-Hernandez.
Experts say the best advice they can give is to ask your doctor if you need one.
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