If you have a lung health condition that requires the use of inhaled oxygen and are planning to travel, talk with your pulmonologist about your special needs. Your provider can offer advice and resources with your situation in mind.
You will also need to do a little extra legwork to find out how to travel with portable oxygen and make the most out of your trip.
Supplemental Oxygen Use When Traveling
Supplemental oxygen therapy is most common among those with lung health issues, like COPD, but it may also sometimes be temporarily recommended for those who have heart health or vascular conditions.
If you need to take your oxygen with you on vacation, you’ll need to learn how to travel safely with oxygen. The choices you need to make will vary depending on where you’re going and how you’re getting there.
First, talk with your medical provider about your plans. Make sure that it is safe for you to travel in the first place and see if there are any restrictions you’ll need to follow.
From there, consider how you’ll need to travel—by car, plane or ship.
Traveling With Portable Oxygen by Car
Traveling in a car is probably the easiest method of traveling with portable oxygen. When in a vehicle, you’ll simply want to protect your oxygen like it’s another traveling companion.
The American Lung Association recommends placing the tank upright on a seat next to you, secured with a seatbelt. When oxygen is in the car, don’t smoke or allow anyone else to smoke. Keep the windows cracked.
Traveling With Portable Oxygen by Plane
Traveling by plane has special considerations. First, let the airline know ahead of time that you are traveling with oxygen and ask if there are any considerations or safety precautions you must follow.
While you can bring personal oxygen cylinders through security and use them at the gate, the Federal Aviation Administration doesn’t allow oxygen cylinders in the cabin.
You’ll need to use an FAA-approved portable oxygen concentrator. Talk with your airline about your options since some may allow you to purchase in-flight oxygen. Ask whether specific medical forms are required so you can have those completed well in advance of your trip.
Bring along extra batteries to power the oxygen concentrator, particularly on long flights. Arriving at the airport and checking in early are also recommended to ensure smooth travel.
Commercial planes are typically pressurized to only 8,000 feet, so patients with higher oxygen requirements can sometimes not receive enough oxygen from the plane’s air supplies. Talk with your primary care provider or pulmonologist about a referral for a high-altitude simulation test, which can reveal whether you need extra oxygen at higher altitudes. This will allow your provider to adjust your oxygen as needed. This is important for both the flight itself and the altitude of the destination.
High-altitude simulation tests are not given routinely and not all pulmonary function labs offer them. Because of this, extra planning may be required to get a referral and make an appointment at the appropriate lab near you. University of Maryland Medical System currently offers high-altitude simulation tests at University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore.
Traveling With Portable Oxygen on a Cruise
If you’re planning a cruise, talk with your cruise line about your oxygen needs well in advance of departure. Many cruise lines require up to six weeks’ notice of the need for portable oxygen. You may need specific forms filled out by your medical provider.
Work with a supplier to have oxygen canisters and other equipment sent directly to the cruise ship before your trip. If you’ll need additional oxygen during your travels, you may also want to arrange for oxygen delivery at ports of call.
Other Factors to Consider
Beyond transportation-specific oxygen considerations, what else do you need to plan? You’ll want to think through where you’re going—or more specifically, how high you’re going.
If your trip will take you to an area with a high altitude, you’ll want to take extra steps. Higher altitudes can be challenging even for those with healthy lungs. When you have a lung health issue, you may require more oxygen than normal to maintain your health in these areas. This is another reason to get the high-altitude test mentioned earlier.
Another important factor to consider at a higher altitude is whether your oxygen concentrator will work effectively. Look up the manufacturer’s information or call the manufacturer to determine the maximum altitude at which the device will work optimally. Be sure to stay below the maximum operating altitude to ensure you get the oxygen you need.
Finally, you must consider what oxygen you will use when you reach your destination. Depending on your needs, you may need to make sure you contact an oxygen supplier at your destination ahead of time and arrange for oxygen to be delivered for use during your stay.
More to Read
- How to Clean and Maintain Your Oxygen Equipment
- Trouble Sleeping? How to Overcome COPD Sleep Challenges
- Better Air Means Better Breathing With COPD
- COPD Management and the Importance of Taming Stress
