Adam P Gibson et al 2009 Phys. Educ. 44 577 doi:10.1088/0031-9120/44/6/001
Adam P Gibson1, Elizabeth Chandra2 and Manik Chandra3
Show affiliationsWe have measured blood oxygenation levels in a group of 14 people (8 young people and 6 adults) on a physically demanding expedition to Mt Kenya. Blood oxygenation was measured at 11 different altitudes between 1910 and 4985 m using pulse oximetry. We found that pulse oximetry was suitable for use on a youth expedition and we were able to show that blood oxygenation levels reduced by 6% per 1000 m of ascent. We propose that pulse oximetry could provide a challenging and exciting project as part of a school skiing trip. Such a project could include aspects of physics, physiology, experimental design and statistical analysis in an engaging and stimulating format.
01.50.My Demonstration experiments and apparatus
Issue 6 (November 2009)
Received 1 June 2009, in final form 14 June 2009
Adam P Gibson et al 2009 Phys. Educ. 44 577
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