Daily Health Checks Including Pulse Oximeter
Ensuring your safety and well-being is our top priority during your Kilimanjaro climb. To achieve this, our guides conduct daily health checks on all climbers throughout the trek. These checks help us ensure that everyone is adjusting well to the thinner air and not showing early signs of altitude sickness.
What is a Pulse Oximeter?
One of the key tools we use for these health checks is a pulse oximeter. This small device, which clips onto your finger, uses beams of light to measure your blood’s oxygen saturation (SpO2) and your heart rate.
Understanding Pulse Oximeter Readings
At sea level, most healthy individuals have an oxygen saturation (SpO2) level between 95-99%. As you ascend Kilimanjaro, the atmospheric pressure decreases, resulting in lower oxygen levels in the air. Consequently, your oxygen saturation number will start to drop.
At the summit of Kilimanjaro, only about 49% of the oxygen available at sea level is present.
Monitoring Acclimatization
By tracking your blood oxygen saturation and heart rate, our guides can assess how well your body is acclimatizing to the altitude. Recording these numbers twice daily allows us to monitor your overall health, identify any concerning trends, and take action if necessary to ensure a safe and enjoyable climb.
Pulse rate is also important, as a very high heart rate can be an early indicator that a climber is struggling with the low-oxygen environment, and the body is working hard to compensate.