In This Issue:

1. Advanced Travel Planning for the Special Needs Traveler
2. Basic Travel Planning Tips
3. Air Travel Security and Disability: Assistive Medical Devices
4. Internet Resources

The travel season is fast approaching. When traveling with disabilities or hidden health conditions, plan ahead for health and safety. This SAFE Aging newsletter includes travel destination planning tips, air travel planning tips, packing tips, a list of acceptable medical devices that may go through security, and some excellent detailed government Internet travel resources for seniors or anyone with disabilities or hidden health conditions.

1. Advanced Travel Planning for the Special Needs Traveler

We live in a great time. To travel from one place to another we get on a bus, train, taxi, trolley, airplane, or cruise ship. As we leave our home surroundings, our adventure begins. The excitement of travel is often in the newness of the surroundings. The joy is in arriving at the destination and discovering and participating in new events!

Unfortunately, our world is not universally accessible for people of all abilities. New surroundings may mean discovering new and limiting obstacles that could make travel disappointing, difficult and exhausting, humiliating or downright impossible for the special needs traveler.

Environmental and attitudinal barriers that prevent the dis-abled from easily getting about still abound throughout the world and in the US. Global governments have recognized the need and are taking proactive action to make access easier for everyone. But, alas, efforts are inconsistent at best.

As a result, any person who has visible or invisible physical limitations or losses in any of the following should do "homework" and carefully make advanced travel plans to find out if the traveler will have assistance at every itinerary stop as needed

Challenges or Limitation in:

• Communication: Need to use communication augmentation devices
• Coordination: Assistance or medical devices
• Joint range of motion: Assistance or medical devices
• Mobility: Need to use physical devices, assistance
• Physical endurance: Pacing assistance or modifications
• Sensation (such as vision, hearing, touch, etc): Assistance, medical devices
• Strength: Assistance needed
• Heart and arteries: Medical resources, medical devices, assistance
• Immune System: Need for medical assistance, medical devices, assistance
• Breathing System (Lungs): Use of devices, need for assistance, medical support

The key to healthy and safe travel is advance planning. We hope you do yours!
 

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2. Basic Travel Planning Tips

Before Ticket Purchase

1. Plan ahead before spending a penny.
    

2. Carefully choose final vacation site for

• accessibility

• available health care resources including doctors and hospitals

• available services such as luggage assistance, transportation, oxygen services, medical rental equipment, etc.

3. Choose the most accommodating travel mode for your disability.
    

4. Check your travel provider's specific policies before you purchase your travel ticket.
    

5. Ask about all the procedures you will be required to do upon arrival.
    

6. Determine personal abilities and if assistance will be needed.
    

7. Find out if and how much assistance by travel personnel can be provided. (Not all travel personnel are required to provide extensive personal assistance, i.e. feeding, bathroom, transfers, etc.)
    

8. Determine if a travel companion will be needed to provide constant assistance.
    

9. Get feedback or references from others.
    

10. Check with your doctor before making final travel plans. Ask the following:

• A letter from your attending physician describing your medical condition

• any prescription medications including the generic names of prescribed drugs.

11. Check your insurance for coverage oversees. Medicare and Medicaid do not provide coverage oversees.
     

12. If traveling with a service pet, check with your vet. Make sure pet has inoculations, and met traveling requirements. Beware! Some countries require quarantines.

Final Travel Plan Tips

1. Provide copy of your travel itinerary to trusted person or family member(s)
    

2. Carry your current vital emergency health information with you. See MEDIC TAG.
    

3. If planning overseas trip, be sure to participate in a free travel registration service offered by the US Department of State. Register is advance to provide information about your upcoming trip abroad, so that the Department of State can assist you in case of an emergency. For more information, click here.
    

4. Be prepared to inform security about any and all implanted medical devices or others you may be carrying.
    

5. Wear clothes that are easy to put on and remove.
    

6. Avoid wearing clothing with metal, big belt buckles or large pieces of jewelry that could set off alarms. 

Packing Tips

1. Carry your essential updated emergency health information with you. (see MedicTag below)
    

2. Make sure there is enough prescription medication in case of unexpected delays.
    

3. Carry medications in carry on bag, never checked-in luggage. (risk of loss)
    

4. Carry prescriptions in their labeled containers, not in a pill pack.
    

5. Be sure to have ID and ticket in an easy to find location.
    

6. All liquids should be in a 1 quart see through plastic container, no larger than 3 ounces. For specific details, click here.
    

7. When packing, if in doubt, leave it out! 

Travel Device for Health and Safety: Medic Tag

Medic Tag is a terrific device for all travelers. It can be carried on your key ring or worn on a lanyard when traveler. Medic Tag is a super easy way to carry the most essential medical information an emergency responder would need to know should a traveler be incapacitated or unable to communicate for any reason.

Easy, fill-in-the-blanks format provides an organized record of:

• Allergies

• Emergency Contacts

• Insurance Information

• Medical History

• Medications & Dosage

• Personal Information

• Physician Information

• Serious Medical Precautions

• Surgery History

• Other Miscellaneous Information

MedicTag is about the size and weight of a pack of gum. It can be carried on a key ring or worn on a lanyard. Any ambulance, rescue, police vehicles and/or emergency nurses or doctors who have access to a PC or laptop can upload MedicTag information during a crisis. It’s a great device for health and safety. You can also scan in copies of required immunizations, passport, and other important travel documents or instructions. For more ideas, read the helpful hints.

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3. Air Travel Security and Disability: Assistive Medical Devices

Air travel in the US and abroad mandates travelers must go through security systems. Many airlines have slightly different methods and policies regarding security strategies.

Many people with obvious or hidden health conditions or disabilities require the use of assistive medical devices. It is now more important that ever to do your homework. The airlines have provided a list of acceptable medical devices that may go through security checkpoints. Some devices will require separate security examinations.

• Wheelchairs

• Scooters

• Crutches

• Canes

• Walkers

• Prosthetic devices

• Casts

• Support braces

• Support appliances

• Service animals

• Baby apnea monitors

• Orthopedic shoes

• Exterior medical devices

• Assistive/adaptive equipment

• Augmentation devices

• Ostomy supplies

• CPAP machines & respirators

• Hearing aids

• Cochlear implants

• Tools for wheelchair disassembly/reassembly

• Personal supplemental oxygen

• CO2 personal oxygen concentrators

• Tools for prosthetic devices

• Medications and associated supplies

• Braille note takers

• Slate and stylus

• All diabetes related medication, equipment, and supplies

• Any other disability-related equipment and associated supplies

The good news is "assistive devices brought into the (airplane) cabin by an individual with a disability shall not count toward a limit on carry-on items." Service animals may accompany a disabled individual on a plane, but the airlines must be informed before departure date.

One other tip! If using medical equipment, get a maintenance check before leaving for your travel destination to make sure your equipment is in tip top shape!

Retrieved from Internet 03.26.08 http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/publications/horizons.htm#HandlingMobilityAids

Air Travel Security and Disability: Privacy

Persons with a hidden disability may discreetly tell security officers they have a hidden disability and ask for discreetness. This is the time to also advise the security officer if and how much assistance is needed, or whether there is a need to move a bit slower than others.  

Travelers who have implanted medical devices such as pacemakers, or defibrillators or other medical implants will need to advise security officers of such implants before going through security. Also, travelers have to educate the security officers when there is a need for physical support or assistance, to sit, move a little slower, rest longer etc.

Security officers should not ask special needs travelers to remove orthopedic shoes, appliances, or medical devices such as an insulin pump, feeding tube, ostomy or urine bag, or exterior component of cochlear implant at any time during the screening process. You may have to inform the security officer you cannot remove your shoes because they are special orthopedic shoes. Special needs passengers will be required to move to another separate area for a pat down or wand screening, before proceeding through security.

Beware! Security must always be satisfied there is no threat before letting any passenger through security.

If for any reason, clothing is required to be lifted, you may request a privacy sheet. Also, you may always request the office change their rubber gloves before doing a pat down.

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4. Internet Resources

• http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/tips_1232.html#medications

• http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/default.aspx

• http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/specialneeds

• http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/specialneeds/editorial_1370.shtm#3

• http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/specialneeds/editorial_1567.shtm

• http://www.tsa.gov/assets/pdf/special_needs_memo.pdf

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Wherever You Go! 
Carry Your Medical & Emergency Info!
www.MedicTag911.com

MedicTag is a portable digital medical alert device that plugs into a computer or laptop USB port and provides instant access to vital emergency info when needed the most.

ONLY $34.95 + s/h

No annual fees!

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