People who want to travel with a chronic medical condition may be surprised at the resources available to them. By planning ahead and packing carefully, many people can enjoy the fun of travel – even overseas – without aggravating or worsening an existing illness, injury, or disease.
Here are a few steps you should take to minimize stress and make your trip as smooth as possible, even if you are traveling with a chronic medical condition.
Consult with your doctor. Before you get too far into planning, talk to the doctor who regularly helps you manage your chronic medical condition. Share where you’re traveling, your method of transport, and how long you’ll be away from home. If you will be bringing syringes or supplemental oxygen, ask for a doctor’s note explaining your need for such things, and be sure to put them in your carry-on bag.
Pack your carry-on bag carefully. All prescription and over-the-counter medicines you may need while traveling should go in a carry-on bag. Make sure all medicines are in their original containers, and bring printed copies of your prescriptions. Those slips of paper could be useful if you are questioned about your medications or need an emergency refill.
Review government health information. If you are going overseas, check which vaccinations might be recommended or required at your destination. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a resource by country with information about vaccines, medicines, and disease outbreaks.
Schedule medical treatments you’ll need while traveling. This will require some research, but your doctor or local travel medical clinic may be able to help. Some cruise ships, for example, offer hemodialysis. Organizations like the National Kidney Foundation may also provide helpful information on locating the treatment you’ll need while traveling.
Check your insurance. Be sure you know what’s covered by your health plan if you need care while you’re away from home. If your plan doesn’t cover care or transport in a worst-case scenario, consider purchasing a travel insurance policy to provide peace of mind.
Talk with your airline and TSA. If you require special accommodations or will be traveling with oxygen, let your airline and TSA know in advance. You can also find information about medical conditions and traveling on the TSA website.
Plan time for rest. You don’t have to do everything every day. If you are traveling across time zones, give yourself time to recover instead of making major plans on the day of your arrival. Set reminders for rest breaks throughout the day.
Watch what you eat and drink. Stick to your regular diet as much as possible. If you are traveling outside the United States, avoid contaminated water. Stick with factory-sealed water, peeled fruit and vegetables, and drinks without ice. Think twice before buying food from street vendors, as they may be unable to wash their cooking pots and utensils thoroughly.
Consider traveling with a medical escort. A medical escort can assist you during check-in and TSA screening and will monitor your status during long flights or until you reach your destination.
Medical Transport Services Offered by SentinelMED
SentinelMED provides domestic and international medical transport and medical repatriation services for travelers. SentinelMED often arranges for medical escorts to accompany travelers and help them navigate the stress and uncertainty associated with long-distance travel.
If your chronic condition worsens while on vacation or a business trip, SentinelMED can help ensure you arrive home as safely and comfortably as possible. Our logistics team works closely with hospital case managers to arrange door-to-door transportation from a discharging medical facility to a receiving facility or family member.
SentinelMED understands the complexity of delivering exceptional care to patients who need assistance during travel. Please contact us to learn more about SentinelMED's services or its staff.
