If you’ve ever wondered, can I go on holiday with oxygen, you have possibly recently become one of the small but not insignificant group of people who rely on medical oxygen for their good health and comfort. While you have to make many changes to your lifestyle when suffering from conditions that require oxygen treatment, giving up travel is not one of them.
Traveling while using medical oxygen can be tricky, but it is definitely not impossible, and with the right help (such as from OxygenWorldwide) and some advance planning, you can still enjoy something of a globe-trotting existence. Of course, you may have to make some concessions to your condition, but not as many as you might fear. Let’s have a look at what is possible, what you will need to consider, and how OxygenWorldwide can help you – and other oxygen users – to travel safely and confidently.
With the right support and preparation, oxygen users travel every day—to relax, reconnect, and explore the world
Is It Safe to Travel While Using Oxygen?
Many patients who are new to oxygen therapy wonder if it is sensible to travel with their portable oxygen supply, and it is true that it is not as simple a process as travelling without medical devices and supplies, when you can simply show up on the day that your ticket is booked for and off you go. But – as long as you take the right precautions – you can travel with your oxygen without too much stress or worry. The following list details some oxygen-dependent travel tips that you should be mindful of before you commit to your trip.
Consult your doctor before you go. Quite apart from needing a quick check-up to make sure you are fit to fly, your doctor might be able to advise you on how to best manage your condition when you are away from home, and let you know whether you need to up your flow rate while on the plane.
More on that later, but while the air around us has an oxygen concentration of around 20%, it tends to be kept at 15% or so on planes (due to altitude and pressurisation issues, etc) which can mean that oxygen-dependent people are affected – it is for this reason that some passengers suffer headaches on planes.
Also consider
- Your general health and the stability of your condition
- The type of oxygen you customarily use
- Your flow rate and whether it will need to be adjusted for your travel
- Altitude issues whether you are travelling to a mountainous destination (which might require an adjustment to your flow rate), or if you will be flying to get there – quite apart from the low oxygen concentration, the height of the plane above the land can be a factor
- Will you need a fitness to fly certificate? And will you have to take an oximetry test before flying (and if so, should you take an oximeter on the plane with you?)
You can see, answering the question, Can you travel with oxygen therapy? is not a simple one to answer, as the reply varies with each individual’s needs.
Where You Can Travel as an Oxygen User
Holidaying in your home country is a great way to avoid a lot of bureaucracy and red tape. Not only would you be able to take your oxygen cylinders with you (space allowing, of course) but you can arrange for refills in your destination city with reasonable ease.
Cruises are often amenable to adapting to the needs of oxygen users, providing power points close to beds, where they will be needed; stopping along the way, where (depending on the destination of the cruise) replacement cylinders or refills can be arranged.
You can travel widely throughout Europe without too much stress, particularly within the EU thanks to the many reciprocal agreements between the countries (do check this with your specific destinations to make sure that you comply with their laws and regulations)
You can also go abroad on a plane, if that’s what you want or need to do, but you will almost certainly have to adapt your oxygen delivery equipment to suit the demands of airlines. Usually, this means using one of a list of specific portable oxygen concentrators (POCs) which do not require the use of compressed oxygen which can be dangerous at high altitudes. POCs work by filtering the oxygen and nitrogen from the atmosphere, and delivering only the oxygen to the user.
There are many reasons to travel: holiday, repatriation, visits to see family members, and work – and there is no need, in many cases, that you will not be able to make these trips as long as the appropriate precautions are taken at the planning stage.
Key Things to Consider Before Booking Your Trip
Consider the answers to these questions before you begin booking your trip:
- What type of oxygen do you use? Oxygen comes in three main types of device: POCs, oxygen cylinders and liquid oxygen (LOX) and your flow rate and specific condition will determine which is best for you.
- Can you carry your own equipment (POC)? Expect that you will have to use an unfamiliar device as the list of FAA-approved devices is quite limited. That way, if you can use your own it is a pleasant surprise. Whichever device you take, you are expected to be able to fully manage it, from servicing to basic maintenance to knowing which alarms might sound and how to resolve them.
- Does your airline allow POCs on board? Once again, the FAA-approved list comes into play.
- Will you need delivery at your destination? Depending on how long you’re travelling for, you might need to refill your cylinders. Is your holiday home accessible, and does your destination country allow for private individuals to access medical oxygen – and whether paperwork (prescription, or a letter from your doctor) is needed.
- Are there local suppliers where you’re going? Can you freely access oxygen in your destination country, will they require sight of a doctor’s note or prescription, and how long in advance do they need to know about your needs? OxygenWorldwide can help here: we have local partners in many parts of the world with whom we have an excellent relationship and can arrange your oxygen supply and delivery for you (with some caveats!).
- Do you need to arrange insurance, EHIC/GHIC, or medical letters? If you are travelling around Europe, an EHIC/ GHIC is a must. They are free to apply for and will mean that your unexpected medical needs are met without needing payment up front. Medical letters are always a wise precaution to affirm your need for oxygen, and in some cases they are necessary, so it is best to have one and not need it than the alternative. Do consider taking out travel insurance as your EHIC/ GHIC can be quite limited. Make sure the policy states your medical condition to avoid denial of payment should you need to claim on it.
How OxygenWorldwide Can Help
We have, as mentioned above, excellent contacts with oxygen suppliers all over the world, especially in Europe, and we are well-versed with the carriage and supply of oxygen in unique and unusual situations. We can:
- Coordinate your oxygen delivery to your destination country.
- Help you receive your oxygen across various countries if you are on a cruise or multi-country trip, and also if you are being repatriated due to falling ill or becoming injured.
- We will work with your home oxygen supplier and your insurer to make sure you have the oxygen you need when and where you need it.
- We can ensure you have the right equipment for your journey – and can help you hire appropriate devices for use on the go or in the destination country if necessary.
Some Travel Scenarios for Oxygen Users
We have assisted a wide variety of passengers and travellers,
from a man flying from the UK to Spain while using a POC; a woman enjoying a cruise on the Mediterranean sure that her oxygen cylinders will be delivered to each port as and when she gets there; pre-delivery to a French holiday home, before the owners arrive so their medical supplies are ready and waiting for them; and, finally, a traveller who had surgery abroad flying home who used OxygenWorldwide on his arrival back in his home country. You can see there is such a wide variety in the people we can help with their oxygen needs – reach out and see how we can help you too!
In short, yes, you can travel with medical oxygen and it will be easier if you call in OxygenWorldwide to help you with the logistics! Being oxygen-dependent can be a nuisance, but it doesn’t have to limit your travel. You will have to put in a bit more work at the advance planning stage, and you will need a trusted support team to help you receive the supplies you need. And that’s where OxygenWorldwide comes in: contact us today to discuss your travel plans – we’ll make sure your oxygen supply is one less thing to worry about.
