Traveling with Lung Disease

For Immediate Release

IRVING, TEX. (July 30, 2004) – 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 Cheri Duncan, RRT, from Baylor University Medical Center’s Asthma and Pulmonary Rehabilitation Center in Dallas, TX. “That’s just not true. It just takes a little extra planning.”

Duncan, who serves as chair-elect for the AARC’s Continuing Care & Rehabilitation Section, 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 Duncan. 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.

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.

In the case of air travel, it gets a little more complicated. “Right now, you cannot use your own oxygen system on the plane,” says Duncan. “You must use oxygen that’s supplied by the airline.” Thanks to lobbying efforts by the AARC and other health care groups, however, this may soon be changing. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently proposed a change in the rules that would allow people on supplemental oxygen to take a pre-approved oxygen concentrator on board.

The proposed rule is currently up for comment at the FAA, and the AARC is sending comments aimed at ensuring the proposal goes through. Patients and families may also comment, and the Association urges everyone with an interest in making air travel easier for oxygen patients to do so by going to the Document Management System http://dms.dot.gov. “We hope to see this change put into effect soon,” says Duncan, “maybe even by this fall.”

While traveling with oxygen may sound complicated, Duncan 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.
If you plan to travel by air, call the airline and tell them you will need oxygen during the flight.
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 — and the latest information on the proposed FAA rule change on allowing personal oxygen concentrators on board flights — visit the AARC’s consumer web site, www.YourLungHealth.org. To comment on the proposed FAA rule change, write to the FAA at: 800 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20591.

To read more about the AARC’s efforts, read AARC Scores Victory for Oxygen Patients Who Want to Travel by Air.

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.

###

		Taking Your Lung Disease on Vacation For Immediate Release IRVING, TEX. (July 30, 2004) – 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 Cheri Duncan, RRT, from Baylor University Medical Center’s Asthma and Pulmonary Rehabilitation Center in Dallas, TX. “That’s just not true. It just takes a little extra planning.” Duncan, who serves as chair-elect for the AARC’s Continuing Care & Rehabilitation Section, 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 Duncan. 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. 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. In the case of air travel, it gets a little more complicated. “Right now, you cannot use your own oxygen system on the plane,” says Duncan. “You must use oxygen that’s supplied by the airline.” Thanks to lobbying efforts by the AARC and other health care groups, however, this may soon be changing. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently proposed a change in the rules that would allow people on supplemental oxygen to take a pre-approved oxygen concentrator on board. The proposed rule is currently up for comment at the FAA, and the AARC is sending comments aimed at ensuring the proposal goes through. Patients and families may also comment, and the Association urges everyone with an interest in making air travel easier for oxygen patients to do so by going to the Document Management System http://dms.dot.gov. “We hope to see this change put into effect soon,” says Duncan, “maybe even by this fall.” While traveling with oxygen may sound complicated, Duncan 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. If you plan to travel by air, call the airline and tell them you will need oxygen during the flight. 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 — and the latest information on the proposed FAA rule change on allowing personal oxygen concentrators on board flights — visit the AARC’s consumer web site, www.YourLungHealth.org. To comment on the proposed FAA rule change, write to the FAA at: 800 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20591. To read more about the AARC’s efforts, read AARC Scores Victory for Oxygen Patients Who Want to Travel by Air. 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. ### Contact: Kris Williams AARC Communications Manager (972) 406-4690, Williams@aarc.org

Taking Your Lung Disease on Vacation