We’ve heard all the news about the need for ventilators; a big reason for that is because by the time many people are admitted to the hospital and testing positive for COVID-19, their blood oxygen levels are dangerously low and they’ve basically had a stealth form of pneumonia for a week or more.

Most of the time when you get pneumonia, you are very short of breath. But COVID-19 affects the lungs differently and you can feel reasonably fine despite the fact you are hypoxic.

If you start experiencing any of the other symptoms of COVID-19 it would be wise to track your blood oxygen level. If its going down, that’s a danger sign!

I’m not a doctor and here is one article that discusses it by a doctor, but it makes sense.

I bought a pulse oximeter today at the local CVS. It appears others have learned of this because they are on back order on Amazon, although not too badly and I’ve noticed a lot of backordered items are shipping faster than posted. Pictured is one that Amazon says will ship in a few days.

The CDC info on symptoms is below. Here is page.

PS—had a new book come out today: Area 51: Earth Abides. Part of the plot revolves around a planet-sized virus, so I like to think big! If you watched Picard, it’s in that vein.

Stay safe. Stay positive. Be like Cool Gus. Or even Scout.

The Green Beret Preparation and Survival Guide. Also now in Kindle Unlimited.

The Green Beret Pocket-Sized Survival Guide (same as above, minus the preparation part in order to be smaller in print)