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Oximetry You Can Trust: Even in the Most Extreme Environments

July 20, 2018

In the forthcoming installment of the Mission Impossible series, Mission Impossible: Fallout, you can catch Tom Cruise performing a HALO (high altitude-low opening) parachute jump stunt, typically reserved for military special forces groups. Parachutists performing HALO jumps are typically exiting aircraft at 15,000 to 35,000 feet. That’s 5,000 to 25,000 feet higher than typical skydivers! Due to the extreme altitudes and conditions of the HALO jump, it is critical to monitor oxygen levels to ensure the parachutist does not go into hypoxia, which is a deprivation of oxygen that can have deadly consequences.

That’s where Nonin comes in! In the clip below, you will see Tom Cruise along with another parachutist checking their oxygen levels on the plane before their jump, relying on Nonin’s Onyx fingertip pulse oximeter to keep them safe at such extreme altitudes.

This Hollywood representation of a HALO jump is accurate to the real-world application of pulse oximetry. In fact, the US Military relies on Nonin fingertip oximeters every day for SpO2 readings they can trust, even in the most extreme conditions. Nonin Onyx 9550 and 9500 actually hold US Military airworthiness certifications and are tested to work at altitudes up to 40,000 feet.

The Nonin Onyx 9550 and 9500 are the only fingertip oximeters approved for use aboard US military aircraft.

But it’s not just military personnel and stunt men who require accurate pulse oximetry measurements in challenging conditions. Many pilots, flight paramedics, and on the ground paramedics rely on Nonin day in and day out to perform their demanding duties. Even on the ground, a recent study shows not all FDA-cleared pulse oximeters perform alike, and that Nonin’s pulse oximetry is more accurate in patients with challenging conditions. Are you putting yourself or your department at risk by using a low-quality oximeter?

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