I want to buy it, but now ...

I want to buy it, but now ... February 12, 21:34

"If something suddenly changed during my home recuperation. I was so worried that I bought two pulse oximeters,"

says a woman in her 40s who lives with her five-year-old eldest son and her husband and wife.

There are a series of posts on the Internet that people have purchased a pulse oximeter, a device that checks the state of oxygen in the blood, but doctors and manufacturers are calling for "refrain from individual purchases."

Even if you are infected with the new coronavirus, you will be forced to take care of yourself at home, and you will die one after another. What should you think about it?

I interviewed.

(Network News Department Reporter Rie Oishi Naoko Okubo Yuki Taguma)

Sudden change during home recuperation Anxiety ...

"If I or my family were infected with the new coronavirus and suddenly changed during my home recuperation. I bought two because of such anxiety."

This is a woman in her 40s in Tokyo who bought a pulse oximeter in bulk on an online shopping site.

It was last month that a woman who works with her husband and lives with her youngest son who goes to a nursery school and three people started thinking about purchasing.

Even if I was infected with the new coronavirus, my condition suddenly changed during my home medical treatment and I died one after another because of the tightness of the bed and the lack of adjustment for hospitalization.

Purchase from a Chinese online shopping site

Around the 20th of last month, a woman searched a Japanese mail-order site to buy a pulse oximeter, but at that time, she said that she could not find reliable equipment from a major Japanese manufacturer and could not check the inventory.

The woman searched for a major online shopping site in China.

From his experience working in imports before, he found a product with the same model number that was certified by an overseas government agency, and decided to purchase it because he thought it was reliable.

12 overseas users purchase!

??

What surprised the woman was the review section of a major Chinese online shopping site.

Some of the reviews of users who seemed to be Russian said, "Buy 12 and give them to relatives."

It means that we can see that orders are being received from all over the world.

Woman

"In the unlikely event that you become infected and your symptoms worsen during home medical treatment, if the oxygen level in your blood drops, you will be referred to a medical institution or have to go through hospitalization procedures. I thought it might be. "

"Can I buy it?"

In fact, a woman who searched the Internet for pulse oximeters before purchasing.

It is said that the question "Is it okay to buy?" Came to my mind when I learned that Japanese manufacturers and others were calling for "refrain from individual purchases."

Woman

"I thought that buying directly from the Chinese site would not reduce what was originally distributed in Japan. There are reassuring materials such as saying,'The local government will distribute what you need.' Without it, honestly, I think it would be unavoidable to buy at your own discretion to protect yourself. "

Everywhere is out of stock!

??

"I'm glad I bought it. It's out of stock now."

"It's running

out of stock.

"

Such posts also stand out on the net.

We talked to the person in charge of Konica Minolta, a manufacturer of pulse oximeters for over 40 years, to see if they are really out of stock.

Konica Minolta representative

"I don't know the situation of other companies, but I think they are all out of stock."

Konica Minolta sells mainly to medical institutions, and although it had tripled the production system from around June last year, demand increased further from around the end of the year and it could not catch up, and it is currently waiting for arrival. Is said to continue.

Konica Minolta representative

"Demand has suddenly increased since the end of the year. I think it's because the number of home caregivers has increased. I want more, but the warehouse is empty, and even if I enter, the products will come out soon. Is the current situation. "

Local government also has difficulty in securing

Some local governments have had difficulty securing pulse oximeters.

By the end of this month, Osaka Prefecture will secure about 13,000 units and rent them out to people who are undergoing home medical treatment or accommodation medical treatment.

Lending is available to those who are receiving medical treatment at home and who are over 40 years old and who are judged by the health center to observe their health with a pulse oximeter or who are deemed necessary due to underlying illness. is.

In addition, we will lend it to all people who are staying at 9 facilities in the prefecture.

The person in charge of Osaka Prefecture said,

"I managed to secure several companies, but even if I gave a quote, I was informed that I could not procure it, so it was difficult. All the companies said," There are many inquiries. If you don't place an order early, you won't be able to make it in time. ”I think it will be difficult to procure because there are many large local governments.”

Pulse oximeter What do you know?

Pulse oximeters are in high demand as the infection spreads.

I would like to confirm again what can be measured.

The pulse oximeter is a medical device that can measure the value "oxygen saturation" and pulse, which indicates how much oxygen is taken up in the blood, just by sandwiching a clip-shaped device between the fingertips without collecting blood. It is a device.

Hemoglobin, which carries oxygen in the blood, turns bright red when it is bound to oxygen and dark red when it is not sufficiently bound.

The pulse oximeter can measure oxygen saturation from the color of blood by shining light on the blood vessels of the fingertips, taking advantage of the fact that the ease of light absorption differs depending on the color.

The normal value is 96% or more, and according to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare's "Clinical Guide", oxygen inhalation is required for 93% or less.

To those who really need it "Avoid personal purchases"

Pulse oximeters have traditionally been used on a daily basis in medical and long-term care settings, but as shortages continue, they may not reach the people who really need them.

A Konica Minolta representative said in a confused manner.

Konica Minolta representative

"I feel that it is not known that I am in an imminent state that I can not keep up with so much. Patients with chronic diseases that may cause acute respiratory failure, medical institutions, It is an important device for determining the medical condition in long-term care facilities, etc. It is recommended that you refrain from purchasing it just for peace of mind in ordinary households where there is no family at high risk of developing acute respiratory failure. I would like to request that the equipment be delivered to those who really need it, such as those with high underlying illness, elderly people, and infected people who are treated at home under the supervision of a health center. "

Doctor's guidance when using

On top of that, when using it, we receive guidance from a doctor and encourage them to use it correctly.

Konica Minolta representative

"The pulse oximeter is easy to operate, so it seems like a device that can be easily used at home, but it is not something that can be used at your own discretion. If not used properly, errors may occur. In addition, the measurement results need to be judged by the doctor by checking the overall condition of the patient. "

Reprinting the certification number without permission Inferior goods!

??

It is said that there are some devices on the net that are considered to be inferior products.

This is Takahiro Soma, a director of "Chainavi", which sells medical equipment.

A pulse oximeter is a medical device that requires certification of safety and effectiveness by a public institution, and a "certification number" is given to the product.

Qualification is also required for sales, and it can only be handled by medical device distributors who have obtained permission from the prefecture.

However, it is said that the authentication number is being reused without permission.

Last month, Mr. Soma found a product similar to the pulse oximeter he sells on the Internet mail order site.

When I checked the product description on the site, I was surprised to find that the certification number of the product sold by the company was used without permission.

When there are many such reprints without permission, about 80 cases including other mail-order sites have been confirmed, and it is said that there is no end to it even now.

If you sell an uncertified product, it violates the law, is not effective or safe, and may cause damage to the person who purchased it.

This company said that it was a "malicious act that distorts the important judgment criteria of consumers", and after requesting the deletion of the page corresponding to the mail order site operating company, contacted the government agency and stopped selling to the vendor. I applied.

Mr. Soma

"If it is sold at an extremely low price, or if the Japanese on the sales page is unnatural, you need to be especially careful. If you are worried, ask the seller if you have a sales license. I think it is also necessary. "

"Healthy people should refrain from purchasing"

We asked Professor Masayuki Hanaoka of the Department of Respiratory, Infectious Diseases, and Allergies, Shinshu University Hospital, about the individual purchase of pulse oximeters.

Professor Hanaoka

"Pulse oximeter is a medical device, and it is necessary to use it correctly under the guidance and advice of medical professionals. For general healthy people, how much meaning does the numerical value of the device have? It is difficult to judge whether

However, some people want to buy and prepare for the infection.

When asked, he answered as follows.

Professor Hanaoka

"It is not bad to use it for those who have been diagnosed with the new corona. In that case, many local governments rent out pulse oximeters to people who are receiving medical treatment at home or at home. I want you to use it properly according to the above and use it to understand your physical condition. I think that it is desirable for healthy people to refrain from purchasing so that the equipment can be delivered to the people who need it. "

Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare Calling to individuals "not thinking"

What does the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare think about personal purchases?

Last month, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare urged industry groups to increase production of pulse oximeters and prioritize orders from local governments.

A person in charge of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare

"I'm not thinking about calling out to'please refrain from purchasing individuals'. I understand the feeling of purchasing with worry, and I think it is difficult to restrict that. The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare is in a position to ask manufacturers and contractors to increase production and provide a stable supply, and to give priority to local governments. "

What if I have to use it?

I asked Professor Hanaoka if there are any precautions to be taken if he becomes infected and has to use a pulse oximeter.

1.

Do not move at

rest and

measure in a resting state.

2. Coldness

cannot be measured accurately if the

enemy's

finger is cold.

Ingenuity such as measuring in a warm room.

3. If

you apply nail polish or have athlete's foot on your nails, the correct value will not be obtained.

Check the condition of your nails.

4. Insert

either the index finger or the middle finger

“deeply” into the

device straight and deep.

Check if the red light hits the base of the nail.

5.

The value immediately after

waiting carefully

is not stable.

Wait for 30 seconds or more until the value stabilizes.

6. Check if the pulse is measured If the

device does not measure the pulse, the correct oxygen saturation value will not be obtained.

Check the operation of the device to see if the pulse is measured properly.

And if you are using it during home medical treatment and the value drops to a certain extent, please contact the health center.

If not, how do you notice the worsening of your symptoms?

So, is there a way to notice the worsening of symptoms without a pulse oximeter, even if you are receiving medical treatment at home?

Dr. Hanako Kurai, director of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Shizuoka Cancer Center, wants you to calmly estimate your risk.

Dr. Kurai

"Elderly people, obesity, diabetes, people with heart and lung diseases, etc. are at risk of becoming severe, but those who do not are less likely to become severe. Therefore, pulse oximeters are wasteful shopping. It may end up being "

And Dr. Kurai told me about the points to notice that the symptoms are progressing without the pulse oximeter.

The first is whether you are out of breath when you move.

Dr. Kurai

"In the case of the new coronavirus, some people say that it is not painful if they are at rest. Therefore, it is a dangerous sign that you are out of breath when you walk to the bathroom and you are out of breath when you talk. In such a case, please contact the instructed place such as the public health center immediately. "

The number of breaths is also an important point.

Respiratory rate can be measured by counting the up and down movements of the chest, but it can be dangerous if the number of breaths per minute exceeds 20.

The normal respiratory rate is 12 to 15 times, but it is important to know the normal respiratory rate because there are individual differences.

Dr. Kurai

"If you know your normal breathing and body temperature, you can see how different it is when you get infected. In addition, your complexion is obviously pale, you are breathing on your shoulders, and the color of your fingers. The point that it is bad is also a point to notice the seriousness. I would like the family of the person who is being treated at home to watch carefully. "

"Now the situation does not reach the people who really need it"

I was impressed by the strong appeal of the person in charge of Konica Minolta during the interview.

Konica Minolta representative

"I understand that it is safer to have it, but now there are situations where it is urgent and even the people who really need it cannot be reached."

In January, Konica Minolta posted the following call on its website.

"For those without underlying illness, pulse oximeters do not lead to infection prevention or early detection of infection. Please refrain from purchasing at home without the guidance of a doctor, etc. We will prioritize the supply to those who really need it, such as those with underlying diseases who are at high risk of aggravation of the new coronavirus infection, elderly people, and infected people who are treated at home under the control of a health center. Thank you for your cooperation. "

Make the pulse oximeter available to those who really need it.

I felt that it is important for each of us to calmly determine whether it is absolutely necessary now and whether it is a reliable device that can measure properly because there is a lot of anxiety.