For Immediate Release
IRVING, TEX. (June xx, 20xx) – Getting ready to go on vacation is
always a lot of work, but if you have breathing problems that require
you to be on oxygen, planning for a trip can sometimes seem overwhelming.
It doesn’t have to be that way, say respiratory therapists
from the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC).
“A lot of people who are on oxygen think they can’t travel
anymore,” says xxxxxxxxxxxx. “That’s just not true. It just
takes a little extra planning.”
xxxxxxxx says the first thing to do is talk to your doctor to make
sure you are healthy enough for the trip. “Your doctor knows your
specific medical problems and needs, and will be able to answer your
questions.” The next step depends a lot on what form of transportation
you’re going to be using to get where you want to go.
“If you are traveling by car, bus, train, or ship then you can take
your portable oxygen system with you,” says xxxxxxx. You’ll
need to let the bus, train, or cruise line know you will be taking
oxygen on board, however, and follow their instructions for its use.
You’ll also need to make sure the bus or train stops at cities
where you can get your portable oxygen tank refilled. If you’re
taking a cruise, you’ll need to have enough oxygen delivered
to the ship before leaving harbor.
Also check the latest information on airline travel. Certain oxygen
concentrators are now allowed aboard airlines, thanks to lobbying
efforts by the AARC and other health care groups. A list of those
approved devices is on the AARC's patient education website, YourLungHealth.org.
If you’ll be staying in a hotel during your trip, you’ll
also need to call them ahead of time and let them know you’ll
be using oxygen during your stay.
While traveling with oxygen may sound complicated, xxxxxxxx emphasizes
help is readily available for people who give it a try. In most cases,
your oxygen supplier will work with you to set up the trip, making
sure you have what you need when you need it.
“One purpose of oxygen is to improve the quality of your lifestyle,”
says the respiratory therapist. “That ‘quality’ includes being
able to visit friends, make business trips, and take vacations.”
Suggested Sidebar: Helpful Hints for Traveling with Oxygen
Here are some helpful hints from the American Association for Respiratory
Care on taking oxygen on the road:
- Call your oxygen supplier and let them know when, where, and how
you plan to travel so they can arrange to meet you at the airport,
hotel, or other locations along the way to deliver you the oxygen
you’ll need while you’re away.
- Call the hotels you'll be staying at and let them know you’ll
be using oxygen in your room.
- Notify your doctor about your travel plans. You’ll need
a special prescription for oxygen used while on the airplane.
For more information on traveling with oxygen visit the AARC’s
consumer web site, www.YourLungHealth.org.
Respiratory therapists are specially trained health care professionals
who assist physicians in treating and managing respiratory patients
in hospitals, outpatient centers, physicians' offices, skilled nursing
facilities, and patients' homes.
The American Association for Respiratory Care is a professional
membership organization of respiratory therapists dedicated to respiratory
therapy education and research. Among its goals are to advocate on
behalf of pulmonary patients for appropriate access to respiratory
services provided by qualified professionals and to benefit respiratory
health care providers.
To learn more about lung health, visit the American Association
for Respiratory Care's patient education website at www.YourLungHealth.org.
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