Fingertip Warning?

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It's amazing what you can do with cheap electronic devices! A Pulse Oximeter is a piece of equipment which can be fitted on to a fingertip, where it records the oxygen saturation level of the blood. Such devices only cost around £20. Some doctors are now advocating them as useful in the fight against Covid-19 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-55733527). Some patients, with a Covid-19 infection, show a condition called 'silent hypoxia' (they have a dangerously low level of blood oxygen, without any obvious breathing difficulties, like gasping for breath). The condition is life threatening. Providing patients (especially those self-isolating at home) with a Pulse Oximeter, means that 'silent hypoxia' can be quickly detected. Medical help can then be rapidly provided via a telephone call. Providing these cheap devices could be a way of monitoring safety in home-based (rather than hospitalised) patients. The only potential problem I see, is that low oxygen saturation impairs neural functioning (the brain relies on oxygen in the blood- this is why people become unconscious shortly after supply is cut off). Even with the Oximeter, decision-making by the patient (especially if they are living alone) might be problematic. The patient might fail to utilise the device routinely or even disregard or misinterpret its readings. Irrespective of this proviso, I would get these devices out there!