Traveling can be stressful if you don’t do a lot of it. Traveling while needing medical oxygen therapy can be more so. Traveling while needing medical oxygen and planning a voyage packed with multiple stops, layovers and transfers and even overnight connections can be a very daunting prospect indeed. But traveling with oxygen across multiple countries doesn’t have to be any more stressful than planning a regular journey, especially if you make use of resources like those offered by OxygenWorldwide who can help travellers plan oxygen support for layovers and transfers while they are away from home.
International oxygen coordination can be subject to stringent legislation and be strictly enforced, but it is by no means impossible, and you will find that with the right planning, multiple stops, layovers and overnight connections are more manageable than you might expect. Let’s have a look at how even the most complex timetable can be oxygen-supported – with the right partner and planning.
Understanding the Challenges of Multi-Stop Travel with Oxygen
The first way to manage your oxygen supply while traveling to multiple locations is to fully understand all the ins and outs: the differing regulations in the various countries, whether you can travel with your preferred oxygen equipment (LOX tanks, cylinder, or POC or portable oxygen concentrator). Many of the logistics of oxygen supply vary from country to country, and ignorance of the rules is rarely accepted as an excuse for bringing along the wrong equipment or quantities.
Airlines, with the ever-present risk of acts of terrorism, these days only allow the use of selected models of POC, and cylinders, if permitted to be transported at all, must be empty and stored in the hold. Different rules apply on land-based travel and also while on cruises. Whenever you will be stopping out, you will have to make sure that you can charge your equipment, and that there is a power supply close to the bed if you use oxygen overnight. Airports tend not to supply oxygen for passengers’ use during layovers or airport stays, so you will have to arrange your own supply, and ensure that you will be able to access it when you need it.
And finally, traveling with oxygen across multiple countries requires a fair amount of paperwork that must be in order. This can include an up-to-date prescription, a medical letter stating your condition and the necessity for oxygen therapy, along with details of your flow rate and the usual equipment you use, and even a ‘fit-to-travel’ note, stating that while you need the oxygen, you are unlikely to fall ill or relapse while abroad. If you are traveling in Europe, you should take an EHIC or GHIC card along with you – this is a reciprocal agreement so your home country or private insurance will cover your medical expenses should you need treatment while away just as they would at home.
That all sounds like a lot, but it is important to understand the full situation as soon in the planning process as you can – that way you have plenty of time to access the necessary paperwork, book accommodation and arrange for the right amount of oxygen and the correct equipment to be delivered in a timely manner, so that when you start your travels, everything runs smoothly.
What to Plan Before You Book Your Trip
- Make a list of every stop on your way (include, for example, potentially having to wait at the airport, bus stop or train station before you even get started – having to wait a couple of hours moves up your oxygen needs schedule by that time). Pay especial attention to any stops or layovers of three hours or more
- Confirm the availability of oxygen that you’ve previously booked with OxygenWorldwide, making sure the accommodation manager as well as the oxygen supplier knows when you’ll be arriving and when the oxygen should be delivered. Don’t forget those stops where you’ll only be overnighting, even if you will be arriving late and leaving early
- Check with your doctor if your flow rate is right for the amount of travel you’ll be doing and the altitude and climate of your destinations – it may need to be adjusted
- Ensure that your prescription will last for the entirety of the full itinerary. Trying to get a new one from either a foreign doctor or hospital, or getting your surgery to deliver it out of the country can be a time-consuming and stressful nightmare and is best avoided if at all possible
- And finally, have a backup plan. Have a backup plan to your backup plan! This means have spare tubing and batteries on hand, carry a spare charger if you can, and ensure that you have hard copies of instruction manuals and how-tos for your oxygen equipment and even your travel plans. If you can, make sure that someone knows where you are at all times, and when you are expected to arrive at the next destination, so the alarm can be raised promptly, if it needs to be
Equipment Options for Multi-Stop Trips
We touched on the various types of equipment above, but here is a bit more information about them:
POCs are ideal for flights and mobility while between connections or while exploring your destination countries’ landmarks. They must be FAA-approved (not all models are) and you should have extra batteries with you that are kept charged and ready to go.
You can also arrange for cylinders of oxygen or LOX to be delivered to your destinations. LOX is liquid oxygen which ‘boils off’ into a huge quantity of gaseous oxygen, making a compact and efficient way of transporting a lot of oxygen – ideal if you have a high flow rate or need oxygen very frequently. But this is also a danger on flights, where the altitude can affect the compressibility of the fluid, and is usually banned from flights. Regular cylinders can be transported, but they must be empty and stored in the cargo hold, so you will have to organise for them to be filled soon after your arrival at your destination.
A hybrid of all two/three of these, especially POCs on flights and while traveling with LOX or cylinder oxygen waiting for you at your destination is an ideal scenario for traveling in Europe, for cruises and in the event that you need to be repatriated after falling ill while abroad.
How OxygenWorldwide Supports Complex Travel Itineraries
OxygenWorldwide has a wide network of trusted partners who understand the needs of our clients and are also completely au fait with the local regulations of oxygen storage and supply. Our experts can work with our local partners to meet your needs in the most effective and legally compliant manner, managing all the complexities so you don’t have to.
Our experts are multilingual and so can provide a useful bridge between you and foreign suppliers, so that everyone knows and understands what is happening. We can also liaise with medical teams and insurers as well as with temporary carers to streamline planning and make sure that no aspect of your travel slips through the cracks.
And finally, we are available to troubleshoot and ease any urgent issues that arise during transit. (A small disclaimer: this service is only available in supported regions, but we will advise you of this when you provide us with your itinerary.)
What to Do During Long Layovers or Transfers
It is fine to be a little bit selfish if you know that exerting yourself will result in your being unwell. Here’s how to practice self-care while on a long layover:
- Find a quiet, airy space to rest, preferably with a comfortable seat
- Make sure you have enough battery power for 150% of the time of the expected wait. (So, if you are waiting for two hours, make sure you have three hours’ worth of battery power)
- Keep your POC with you – don’t check it in or allow it to be separated from your carry-on
- Be aware of your health and if your breathing worsens, alert staff early rather than leaving it until you are almost in medical crisis
- And finally, make sure all your equipment is clearly labelled with your name and contact information. Make sure every detachable piece has your name on it: from the nose cannula to the tubing to the tanks – that way there is no way there can be any doubt as to which piece of equipment is yours, or that it all belongs together should something untoward occur
So you can see that, yes, multi-destination traveling while needing medical oxygen can be daunting – but it doesn’t have to be. These sorts of trips need more planning and careful logistical input, but they are absolutely possible. With the right equipment, documentation and the assistance of OxygenWorldwide you can travel confidently, traversing borders, connections and time zones.
