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Traveling with Supplemental Oxygen
By Cheryl Switzer
PHC Staff member and Features Editor
In General
Being on supplemental oxygen does not mean you have to be housebound.
Many of us have learned to grab the tank and go. Your doctors will
tell you to stay as active as possible and to use your oxygen as
prescribed and if you feel well enough and have your doctor's permission
to travel, do it.
With a little planning, it's fairly easy to obtain oxygen on the
road, in the air, across the country or around the world. There
are limitations, of course, so you'll want to plan carefully.
Before You Plan Your Trip
All oxygen suppliers are not equal. Smaller regional suppliers
may not have the resources and / or the expertise to help you plan
or execute your trip. So, before you get serious, call and ask
for the travel desk, tell them where you want to go and find out
what they can do for you. If they fail the test, call a few other
suppliers who service your area. You can switch suppliers at any
time.
Road Trips
If you're driving straight through to a known destination, your
oxygen supplier can arrange for portables and / or reservoirs to
be delivered when you arrive. If you're using gas canisters, you
may want to pack a few extra in case an unplanned stopover is necessary.
If you're using a liquid system, you may request a 40 pound reservoir
which can be strapped into a back seat with an ordinary seat belt.
If your trip is more free form, you may be able to work something
out by carrying extra supplies and asking your supplier for some
contacts along your route. This is more difficult for the suppliers
to handle, but it never hurts to ask for what you want.
It's never a bad idea to play the "what if" game. You
may ask your supplier, what you should do if you run out of oxygen
unexpectedly, who you should call and what you can expect to happen.
After all, you are taking a vacation to get away from daily worries
so do some contingency planning before you leave. Keep this In mind when you're estimating your oxygen needs. If
your destination is a mountain retreat, you'll be using more oxygen
than if you are headed for the beach. Don't underestimate. And
make sure you have a copy of a doctor's signed prescription. You
may be asked to show it to obtain additional supplies along the
way.
Air Travel
Some but not all airlines offer supplemental oxygen to passengers. And as of 2006, Portable Oxygen Concentrators (POC) such as the Inogen One, AirSep Lifestyle and SeQual Eclispe are all allowed thru TSA at the airports and many major airlines allow their use in-flight with a written physicians authorization and advance reservations. Consult your airline about their policies and proceedures.You'll want to check with your airline prior to finalizing your ticket sales. Please note that if your airline of choice does offer supplemental o2, they will charge you for it and it's not cheap. If your flight is non-stop, you'll pay one fee. If you must change planes, you will be charged for each leg of the journey. They will NOT allow you to use your own gas or liquid systems on the plane but may allow POC's as mentioned above. But no matter what you use, you'll need a recent doctor's prescription to show them when you check in.
Once again, it's a good idea to check and recheck your order for supplemental oxygen. Call the week before your flight to make sure they have it ordered for you or have made note of your intention to bring along your own POC. And when you arrive at the airport to check in, ask them to review their notes about your oxygen needs.
When you finally board the plane, they will have you board early. If you are using supplemental oxygen they provide, the steward will show you the box under your seat, set the flow for you (based on your doctor's written directive) and make sure you are comfortable. If you are using your own POC, they will show you where to plug it in.
Note: In-flight oxygen the airlines provide is not portable so bathroom breaks may be a challenge. When you're booking your tickets, you may want to choose a seat near the restrooms.
After the Flight
Your oxygen supplier can arrange to have oxygen canisters or a
full liquid portable waiting at your airline gate. If you run into
any problems, ask to be taken to Traveler's Aid. If you must take
connecting flights, make sure your supplier knows you need oxygen
for each leg of your trip including a supply at the arriving gate
between connecting flights. And don't be afraid to check and recheck
to ensure
everything is in place prior to your departure. It's much too
important to leave to chance.
Who Needs In-flight Oxygen?
If you do not use supplemental oxygen in your daily life, but have
experienced uncommon shortness-of-breath at high altitudes or during
a recent airline flight, ask your doctor about in-flight oxygen.
Riding in a commercial airline is like being at 7,000 feet and
if you're feeling very s-o-b, your blood saturation may be dipping
into the 80's. As many of you know, your heart is under tremendous
stress when SAT's fall below 90. An investment in in-flight oxygen
is a very good investment so do purchase it if your doctor thinks
you need it.
Other Travel
Supplemental oxygen can be arranged on Amtrak trains and many
cruise ships and offer another possibility to those of us seeking
a little freedom. As with all things, you'll want to plan ahead
asking about the availability of o2 before you finalize your plans.
When it's time to finalize things make sure the room you're being
assigned has space for the equipment you will be using and a sufficient
number of electrical outlets.
There is a wealth of information on the Internet and we urge you
to look further. We think the links listed below are a good place
to begin.
If you're a seasoned traveler and have some info or links you'd
like us to add to this piece, please send them to: cherylswitzer@phcentral.org.
Good resources:
International Society of Travel Medicine
Amtrak |
