What Pro2 is Up2

Your dependency on supplemental oxygen doesn't need to prevent you from traveling and enjoying your life! In 2009, the U.S. Department of Transportation issued a final rule requiring all commercial airlines to accept patients traveling with portable oxygen concentrators (POCs). Traveling successfully with a POC begins during the planning stages of your trip. Please refer to the following helpful tips for oxygen users traveling by airplane:

- Before you make travel plans, check with your doctor to determine what extra precautions must be taken.
- Contact your home care provider several weeks before you plan to travel to make arrangements concerning oxygen supplies and equipment for you while traveling and at your destination.
- Be prepared to make several contacts with your travel agent and/or the airline. Each airline has specific rules and regulations. Some airlines may require specific forms of notification of oxygen service to be submitted to them prior to travel. In most cases, your physician will need to fill out and sign the forms.
- Request an aisle seat for ease of movement and for allowing more room to change your POC battery.
- Notify the airline of any other special needs prior to traveling. These needs may include wheelchairs, motorized cart, etc.
- Reconfirm your travel plans with the airline at least 72 hours in advance.
- Arrive at the airport well in advance to allow ample time for check-in and security. Going through security takes time as both the POC and extra battery will have to be checked and scanned.
- Take advantage of the option to pre-board.
- Stay charged up! When using a POC, estimate the battery discharge rate for the flight time and multiply that by at least 2 to accommodate flight delays and increased power utilization.

For more helpful airline travel tips, please click here to read Up, Up, and Away published in the May 2009 American Association of Respiratory Care Times.