Pulse oximetry is a non-invasive method to measure oxygen saturation in the blood. It uses light transmitted through tissue to determine the ratio of oxygenated to deoxygenated hemoglobin. A pulse oximeter reading below 90% may indicate hypoxemia. While generally accurate, readings can be affected by factors like low perfusion, dyshemoglobinemias, or artificial nail finishes. Immediate actions for extremely low saturations include checking ABCs. A reading that improves with supplemental oxygen but remains low implies severe hypoxemia. Readings are lost after cardiac arrest and saturations decrease after respiratory arrest until cardiac arrest occurs.