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Oxygen Saturation Device To Help Thornton Firefighters Exposed To COVID

THORNTON, Colo. (CBS4) - The Thornton Fire Department is one of the first in the country to use  new technology to monitor firefighters who were exposed to COVID-19. The department is using the Masimo Pulse Oximeter on quarantined firefighters to check their health status and be notified of a health decline.

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(credit: Thornton)

The device measures oxygen saturation, pulse and breathing rate, circulation and respiratory quality.

"Each call, incident, and encounter continued to place firefighters at risk," said Thornton Fire Community Safety & Information Officer Sabrina Iacovetta. "Precautions were taken to protect firefighters with equipment, policy and guidelines, and despite all efforts, individuals were affected."

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(credit: Thornton)

Alerts for abnormal readings are available 24/7, the department says.

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