Adapting to Seasonal Changes with Portable Oxygen Solutions
If you've been diagnosed with a long-term respiratory illness, you may need portable oxygen in order to have a good time when you are out exploring the world. However, be aware, especially if you are travelling to countries with different climates, that your oxygen needs may change under these new conditions. Even if you're staying at home, seasonal changes can impact both your health (and therefore your need for supplemental oxygen) and your oxygen supply. In hot, dry weather your oxygen might run out quicker due to higher evaporation, whereas during pollen season you may suffer from allergic responses which increase your need for oxygen. Even humid conditions, which might ease some conditions, can make it harder for people who use portable oxygen: humidity can worse 'stuffiness' and congestion, as well as making it harder for your lungs to properly use the oxygen you are giving it.
Avoid these seasonal peaks and troughs by planning ahead with your portable oxygen solutions. Maintain your well-being throughout the year, and don't forget to take into account any adjustments you have to make to your vacation oxygen needs by checking the climate of the area you will be visiting and arranging a good supply of travel oxygen to be waiting for you in each destination. OxygenWorldwide can help with this – read more about this below.
Seasonal Challenges for Oxygen Users
In winter, we tend to huddle together in warm buses and trains, to stay inside cosy coffee shops and libraries, and viruses like to come along with us too. Colds and flus spread widely in winter for two reasons: firstly, that we are more likely to be in close proximity with others, but secondly because being physically cold weakens our immune system a little, making us more susceptible to letting viruses and bacteria through our defences.
Winter
If you already have one of the many conditions that are treated with the use of portable oxygen (COPD, heart failure, severe asthma, lung diseases such as cancer, multiple sclerosis and more) your illness might worsen during colder weather. Asthma is a disease that arose from a natural human reaction: in extremely cold weather, breathing in large amounts of freezing air is dangerous, lowering core temperatures to a point of no return, reducing energy and cognitive abilities needed to regain the safety of a warmer place. Therefore, when it is excessively cold, the airways narrow, forcing the ingress of air to slow down and thus giving it time to warm up enough before it reaches the lungs. Smoke and pollution can have the same effect, as the body tries to minimise the quantity of contaminants in the body. Asthma is what happens when this reaction happens without being necessary, shortening the breath and depriving the body of vital oxygen.
Summer
High humidity makes it feel as though there is not enough air to breath (and it is true that the moisture occupies space that would otherwise be occupied by the oxygen and nitrogen mix we live on) and cause you to need extra oxygen to be comfortable. High temperatures are draining too; tiring you out and making all but the smallest movements a real effort. High pollen levels too are a known problem even for people who do not need oxygen tanks, causing allergic reactions, hay fever and sinusitis, and they can cause severe relapses in patients with severe ailments of the types mentioned above.
Spring and Autumn (or Fall)
These seasons are arguably the best for people with respiratory illnesses, neither too hot nor too cold, and falling after the worst of the pollen but before viruses can spread widely. However, the very changeability of these seasons can be problematic as you then have to deal with large sudden temperature fluctuations. It is also a time when fields are ploughed, fertilizers are sprayed, and controlled burns are undertaken as fertile farms slow down for winter or begin to awaken ready for planting.
If you are planning a holiday overseas, make sure you do some research into what the weather will be like while you are there, and plan your oxygen needs accordingly, just as you tailor them for the seasons at home.
Benefits of Portable Oxygen Solutions
By using OxygenWorldwide, you can enjoy an uninterrupted supply of oxygen at your chosen location whenever you need it, at home or away. Invest a little bit of time to understanding your own oxygen needs, and then place your order, adapting it as it becomes necessary, to have the full flexibility and mobility you need. You will be able to come and go with the rest of your party, comfortable and breathing well, even as you enjoy seeing the sights, dining out, or exploring wonderful landmarks. If you are an existing customer, you can order oxygen for travel, letting us know your itinerary so that we can deliver the oxygen you need at an appropriate time for you to benefit from it. You can enjoy enhanced independence, no matter if you are away from home, or simply transiting from one season to the next.
Choosing the Right Portable Oxygen Equipment
Portable oxygen concentrators are handy gadgets that use the air around you to provide the high concentration of oxygen that you need. The natural air contains around 20% oxygen, but people who rely on supplemental oxygen require concentrations up in the 90s. Concentrators filter out the other elements, retaining only the oxygen, so that you always have a good supply, no matter where you are. The equipment is only modestly bulky – approximately the equivalent of a small backpack in size and weight – and can be taken into most places and on many forms of public transport. Having said that, do check with your chosen airline that you will be allowed to take your personal oxygen concentrator on your flight – there are different rules between the various airlines and countries also have their own regulations.
An oxygen cylinder is what most people think of when they think of 'portable oxygen'. These narrow, longish tubes are surprisingly heavy for their size, but can contain a good amount of compressed oxygen, so you can enjoy an entire holiday on just one cylinder of oxygen abroad.
Liquid oxygen is, as it sounds, a liquid form of oxygen. It is the product stored inside cylinders and – due to its ready compressibility – it is the ideal product for people who need high volumes of oxygen (6 litres of oxygen per minute or more) as each cylinder can last a long time.
When you are choosing your portable oxygen equipment, consider all the variables before choosing the one that will become a close companion to you: think about the battery life, and how and where you will charge it or change the batteries; how easily portable it is (and here, do make sure that you have made sure that your oxygen needs will be met before looking at any other specifications – it will not be a good holiday if you are turning blue and losing energy with every minute that passes. Consider how easy the equipment is to carry and use. If your disease has weakened you, think about a wheeled trolley for your oxygen cylinder instead of risking injury to yourself. Finally, make sure you come up with some contingency plans: if there is the chance of a power cut or even the cold causing your battery to run down more quickly than you realized, what will you do?
What you can do, if you're using OxygenWorldwide for your oxygen supply, is to give us a call. Our helpline is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and we can arrange for extra supplies to be delivered to you as a matter of urgency, should the need arise. If you are not yet with OxygenWorldwide, work through the Oxygen request form, filling in all your key information (including how much oxygen for travel or for everyday use you need and how often, where you will be travelling and when) and see how perfectly we can meet your needs.
Tips for Managing Oxygen Use in Different Seasons
Winter
- Prevent your equipment from freezing by keeping spare tanks in a warm part of the house, or fitting an insulating cover to your cylinder to stave off the worst of the cold.
- Fit a moisture trap to your in-use cylinder, so that any condensation is safely trapped away from the working parts that you need to be free to deliver oxygen to your lungs.
- Look after yourself at this time too, make sure you bundle up well, when leaving the house so you stay warm and comfortable, which will help keep you as healthy as possible.
Summer
- Bear in mind that using oxygen can be quite drying, so as well as investing in a good quality lip balm, make sure you stay hydrated, sipping water regularly throughout the day and upping your intake when it is hot.
- Be mindful of your equipment, just as in winter, making sure it is not in direct sunlight as this can cause it to leak and/ or overheat.
- If you can, navigate your way from one air-conditioned or temperature-controlled venue to another.
Allergy Season
- Allergies can pop up at any time, but they are most prevalent when plants are pollinating, when farmers are spraying their fields and when there is a lot of smoke and pollution in the air – this is seasonal, but will vary slightly with each location.
- Prepare yourself by investing in good-quality air purifiers especially for your bedroom, try to avoid the worst exposure to allergens – sometimes simply keeping the windows closed can make an enormous difference – and keep your equipment clean and well-dusted. Pollen spores are tiny and can settle everywhere, including into your face mask should you not need to wear it all the time.
Travelling with Portable Oxygen Across the Seasons
Whenever you are booking a holiday, try to do so well in advance as your need for supplemental oxygen must be catered for before you set foot on the plane. However, also consider what the seasons will be at the time you are going to travel. The northern and southern hemispheres have seasons that are opposite to each other, and the seasons change roughly every three months or so. So, travelling to Australia in December, for example, from London, can see you swap cold, rainy and icy conditions for roastingly hot and dry weather – and you must try to work out if, sticking with the example, Australia's exceptional heat will mean that you need more oxygen, or if you will get by with a little less than usual…
As a rule of thumb, it is better to have access to more oxygen than you need, and you can also phone the 24/7 emergency number to tweak your supply if you need to. If in doubt, ask our experts who are accustomed to dealing with oxygen supplies all over the world.
So, if you're planning a vacation any time soon, or even if you are new to needing an oxygen tank, make sure you're prepared for seasonal changes to affect your needs by setting up a reliable portable oxygen solution that is tailored to you.
If you have any questions or doubts, get in touch and consult OxygenWorldwide to see what solutions are available for your specific needs.
Your Guide to Seamless Oxygen Delivery While Traveling Abroad
You may think of holidays as being only for people who enjoy good health or who can easily carry with them their supply of medication to keep their heartburn under control, their blood pressure nice and low, or even their blood sugars within an optimal range in the case of diabetics. But people do live long lives with serious chronic diseases, such as COPD, severe asthma, heart failure (which is not, as the name implies, an event, but rather a lengthy and slow decline, which can, these days, be very well managed for the most part) or cystic fibrosis which is often managed using oxygen therapy: as are most of these conditions. Awareness is growing that these people want to live full and happy lives in which they take part in activities, visit important sites and landmarks and, of course, go on holiday. But you cannot simply dash off on a whim when your life depends on your access to oxygen tanks. Not only is it unlikely that you would be able to simply transport your oxygen tanks without prebooking them in, but you are also highly unlikely to be able to find new supplies should something go awry when you travel.
And people with all the conditions named above, among many others, do need their oxygen to be ready and available as soon as it is needed – and this need can be exacerbated by flying and being subjected pressurised cabins with (potentially) lower oxygen levels – this is fine for perfectly healthy people, but can worsen COPD and other respiratory illnesses. Informing the airline of your needs before you travel can get you access to the aeroplane's oxygen supply and you can be provided with the supplementary air you require, but this still doesn't help you once you've landed and are trying to get to grips with a new country, and all that comes with it (different language, different weather, different customs and regulations, different food and so on) and begin to run out of whatever oxygen supplies you have been given to tide you over with no idea of where to source more, and how to ask for it should you find the right place!
This is where OxygenWorldwide comes into its own, helping travellers in need of oxygen receive the supplies they need in a timely and reliable manner. Let's have a look at how you can get started with accessing oxygen abroad.
Plan Ahead
This is crucial if you are to receive the supplies you need as and when you need them.
Firstly, book your holiday months in advance of you actually travelling if this will be your first holiday abroad. Learning all the ins and outs of modern travel is hard enough without doing it in a rush and trying to organise a supply of oxygen tanks to tie into each destination on your way! Consult your doctor too, letting them know where you are going, for how long, and ask them questions about whether any vaccines are needed, and if so what for, how long before you travel you should get them done, and if there will be any side effects. You should also consult them on your oxygen supplies while you are away: how much will you need, how big or bulky is the container, and is it possible to get smaller oxygen tanks for discreet use while on coach tours or other excursions.
Ask your doctor and also do your own research about what medical letters or prescriptions you need to take with you – make sure you have legal paperwork to back up your medications and oxygen. It is not worth risking your life or your health by having your vitally needed belongings confiscated by an over-zealous border official.
Understand Your Oxygen Options
You can take advantage of a series of innovations in the world of oxygen therapy to mix and match your travel oxygen equipment to meet your differing needs, depending on what you are doing at the time: from chilling in your hotel room or lounging on the beach to exploring the destination country by bus or train or even wandering around museums and art galleries. Let's have a look at what is available when it comes to oxygen for travel
- Medical Liquid Oxygen (LOX): come with a portable tank and what is called a 'flask'. In essence, you fill the flask from the tank, and you're good to do for as long as that supply lasts. Do remember to allow for refilling time, if needed, and don't go out with just the flask – the oxygen tank is designed for use as holiday oxygen and is readily portable in a specially designed carrier. Some airlines and other public transport will allow the use of these devices by passengers, but make sure you check before you buy your ticket!
- Concentrators: An oxygen concentrator is an ingenious device that lets you convert the air all around you from about 20% oxygen to pure oxygen (running at about 90 to 95% pure). They work by filtering air particles, trapping the larger nitrogen particles and only allowing the tiny oxygen particles to enter the oxygen concentrator, where they are stored until you need them. Concentrators come in two types: large, static versions, or smaller portable options, the latter of which are battery fuelled, so you can get out and about without becoming distressed or short of breath.
- Cylinders: Carrying an immense amount of pressurised oxygen, oxygen cylinders are a popular choice for travellers who rely on having a good amount of oxygen at their disposal: for example, overnight. Cylinders can be huge, running up to 4,300 litres of oxygen (although these are usually found in a medical establishment rather than a private home. Most personal use oxygen cylinders hold about 570 litres of oxygen. Once you know your itinerary, you can arrange to have cylinders to be delivered and collected once used at each of the destinations along the way so that you will always be able to access oxygen when you need it.
- Small Cylinders: As the name suggests, these are just like the bigger versions, just… smaller. These smaller cylinders are ideal for travellers as they are much easier to carry about, store on public transport and generally are more discreet to use while out and about. The very smallest cylinders hold enough oxygen for a couple of hours, depending on how much you use, making them ideal for short visits to, for example, a restaurant or the cinema.
- CPAP Machines and Other Support Devices: These machines are all quite similar to oxygen concentrators in that they capture the air around you and pressurise it slightly to provide continuous airflow into your lungs. Many of these are readily accepted on air flights and in hotel rooms, but it is possibly easier to arrange to have a machine delivered to your hotel room on the day that you arrive so your vacation oxygen is ready and waiting for you on arrival.
Oxygen Delivery at Your Destination
As stated above, you should begin planning for your supply of holiday oxygen as soon as you decide to travel, and this includes using OxygenWorldwide for all your vacation oxygen needs. Let us know when you will be travelling and how much oxygen you require. Bear in mind, however, that we cannot refill third-party oxygen containers. But, saving that, we can deliver oxygen worldwide, as our name proudly suggests – but we do need plenty of notice to be sure of setting up the supply line in good time for your arrival. And we can meet you right off the plane, if that is what you need us to do. If you want to travel to multiple destinations – a sort of grand tour – that is absolutely fine too: simply let us know all your travel arrangements and we will work out the logistics to keep you supplied with the oxygen you need.
FAQs
How much will this cost me?
We cannot give a 'ballpark' estimate for your supply of oxygen. Contact us and we will provide a free quotation tailored to your personal needs.
What happens if something goes wrong, especially at night on a weekend?
Don't worry. We have an emergency telephone line that is monitored 24/7: just ring us up whenever you need to and we will leap into action to assist you.
What if I stay on holiday longer, or want to leave early?
Let us know your changed plans as soon as possible, and we will work with you to keep you breathing easily.
To conclude, it is perfectly possible to travel for pleasure with a medical condition that requires the use of oxygen. Using our services will ensure that you can focus on the sights, sounds and souvenirs of your holiday destination, instead of fretting about your supply of essential oxygen: give us a call or drop us an email or use our form and see how well we can tailor our services to your unique needs.
Boost your diet to protect against severe asthma attacks.
Another fantastic article we have to be brought back to our current readers who have sever asthma, here are some great supplements that have been noted to help. Please do check with your doctor before taking as these are just recommendations from various sources.
We are all aware of extra nutrients and vitamins we need. But especially in winter in most European and other countries the sun goes down and we lack a vital Vitamin D. There have been several studies around this helping against severe asthma attacks. Winter is especially difficult due to the cold air and this causes airways to go into spasm.
If you are looking on ways to help please speak to your doctor about taking more Vitamin D during this winter to help ease the symptoms. Even for those who do not suffer from asthma attacks can have benefits of this vitamin as we lack the goodness of the sun. This can even simply be feeling more energised during those cold winter months and what our bodies need more of.
Take a look at our website for more resources and help with those needing medical oxygen here.
Best Winter Trip 2022
- Iceland – A great island in winter, beautiful scenery.
- Madeira – A wonderful landscape.
- Andalucia – Amazing for Winter.
- Sicily – Small island but so much to see.
- United Kingdom – London, Edinburgh, Bath - great historical cities.
- Germany – So picturesque.
- Cyprus – For those looking for warmer winter holidays.
For all your medical oxygen needs please do send your desired destination and oxygen needs to our expert team simply online here or call us.
COPD and oxygen therapy
Another article from the archives but an important one.
Many people with COPD need supplemental oxygen therapy. Unfortunately, some people who use portable oxygen are wary of travelling with oxygen.
So they opt to stay at home instead of going out to see friends, shop, or enjoy a vacation. But oxygen therapy can actually enhance your physical ability to go places and do things that the advance stage of COPD was keeping you from doing. Once you’ve learned what’s involved, you may find that oxygen gives you more freedom to go places and do things you want to do.
If you don’t use one already, you’ll need to switch to a portable oxygen delivery system for trips away from home. Portable oxygen concentrators (POCs), hold compressed oxygen in small tanks. Most POC tanks come with carrying cases and travel carts. These are excellent for using in airports or simply going sightseeing.
Kontakt OxygenWorldwide – experts for over 20 years when travelling away from home. Our team of experts can help arrange all the necessary oxygen and POC’s during your holidays to help you and your loved ones have more freedom.
List of airlines that allow portable oxygen
Always check before booking your flight as details and policies may change. These airlines have allowed portable oxygen concentrators you can reach out to their websites for further information and to confirm their conditions.
Aegean Airlines
Aer Lingus
Air Canada
Air China
Air France
Air Iceland
Air New Zealand
Air Malta
Air Tahiti Nui
Airtran Airways
Alaska Airlines
American Airlines
Alitalia
All Nippon Airways
Allegiant Air
American Airlines
Avianca Airlines
British Airways
China Southern Airlines
Continental Airlines
Delta
EasyJet
Emirates
Frontier
Hawaiian Airlines
Iberia
Icelandair
Japanese Airlines
Jet Blue
KLM
Lufthansa
Mango
Qantas
Ryanair
Singapore Airlines
South African Airways
Southwest
Sun Country
Swiss Air Lines
Turkish Airlines
United Airlines
US Airways
Virgin Atlantic
Virgin Australia
WestJet Airlines
Also refer to our website here for countries we can deliver oxygen to once at your destination.
10 more countries that have dropped or lowered COVID restrictions...
Here find countries that have dropped all or most of their local Covid-19 restrictions.
- Malaysia
- Belize
- Slovakia
- Czech Republic
- Jamaica
- Argentina
- Poland
- Denmark
- Sweden
- Romania
Plan you trip in advance as possible, Contact our team with your medical oxygen requirements and pack your bags ready for an adventure!
What oxygen therapy information do you need when planning a trip?
The best thing to do is to contact your GP or Doctor or specialist consultant to obtain the below information before contacting the team to plan and delivery what you will need on your next trip.
- Will you require oxygen for the whole journey or just for a certain amount of time
- Maximum flow rate
- If you require battery power on the plane then please do contact your airline to see if a seat is available with access to a power socket
- Always pack spare adapters
- If you will be using your portable oxygen concentrator during the flight, you may not sit in an emergency exit row or in a seat that restricts other passengers’ access to an emergency exit.
10 Countries that have dropped or lowered COVID restrictions RIGHT NOW
- Turkey
- Austria
- France
- Germany
- Cyprus
- Latvia
- Grenada
- Iceland
- Gibraltar
- Chile
Plan you trip in advance as possible, Contact our team with your medical oxygen requirements and pack your bags ready for an adventure!
Oxygen Therapy and Smoking Does Not Mix
Cigarettes on their own are the leading cause of house fires, but add to this the risk of oxygen being stored in the home and the danger dramatically increases.
Over the last few years there have been a staggering number of reports of people on home oxygen therapy being admitted to hospital with facial burns, eyebrows and hair burned off, death, smoke inhalation injuries and fire damage to their homes in the thousands of pounds. These occurred because they or a friend/family member were smoking whilst the patient's oxygen equipment was in use.
However, do not interpret this to mean that oxygen therapy is something to be afraid of, it just needs to be respected.
General Advice when using oxygen equipment:
• If you’re on oxygen, DO NOT smoke.
• If you live with or visit someone on oxygen, DO NOT smoke around them.
• Stay away from open flames, sparks, and gas (including gas stoves).
• Turn the oxygen off while not in use.
• Avoid petroleum-based products.
• Do not use aerosol sprays nearby.
• Comply with all safety instructions provided by your home medical equipment company.
• Keep your oxygen concentrator in a well-ventilated area.
• Never allow the tubing, cannula, or mask to be covered, as it can result in a build-up of concentrated oxygen.
• Keep the name and number of your home medical equipment provider in a prominent spot for reference.
• Post a sign stating 'DANGER: No Smoking-Oxygen in Use' for the benefit of engineers or visitors.
There are also health risks associated with smoking while on oxygen therapy. Smoking is the most common cause of many medical conditions associated with the requirement of oxygen therapy. Smoking got you here therefore it is highly recommended that you put as much effort as possible into trying to give up this harmful addiction, or to at least cut down. Smoking more will just continue to damage your lungs and increase the deterioration of your respiratory capability and make you increasingly more dependent upon supplemental oxygen. Using supplemental oxygen can improve your health and improve your medical condition but if you smoke you are hampering the possible medical benefits of the treatment.
There should be a respectful balance between your own lifestyle choices, your medical needs and the safety of yourself and others around you. Be aware of the dangers and make sure you take all possible safety precautions.
References: http://lambertshc.com and http://scienceblogs.com
