Travelling with COPD can take a little extra care for you or your loved one. It does not mean you have to forgo the experience. Enjoying a good quality of life with COPD is achievable, which includes travelling via air, car, train, or ferry. Travelling abroad may take extra consideration, however with care, planning and assistance from your medical team, travelling with COPD is attainable.
Here are some helpful tips for travelling with COPD, especially if it is the first time you are travelling with a lung disease. Whether travelling for leisure or business, preparation is essential.
Tips for travelling with COPD
- Schedule an appointment with your doctor way in advance to ask whether you are fit enough to travel. There may be some additional tests you need prior to travelling. Your healthcare team may want to undertake to check you are clinically stable to fly.
- Remember your medical records. You can ask your doctor for a printed summary of your medical history and current medication list. These will be helpful and if you require emergency care.
- Complete a written COPD Action Plan with your doctor to take with you. This is essential so you understand how to manage a flare up and what actions to take whilst travelling. Ask your doctor about the possibility of antibiotics and corticosteroids to carry with you in case of an emergency.
- Plan your trip in advance. This provides time to ensure all equipment and medications are in stock and helps avoid any last-minute travel disruptions.
- Purchase travel insurance. While it will depend on what the travel insurance covers, the cost will vary. We suggest reaching out to the insurance companies to check that any medical insurance you take out will specifically cover COPD.
- Make a checklist of items to take with you. Doing this will ensure you can relax more instead of worrying about what you forgot while you are travelling. Items to ensure are on your checklist include face masks, batteries, hand sanitiser and emergency medications.
- Carry medication in your hand luggage and spare supplies in your suitcase, in the event your luggage is lost or delayed.
- If you need oxygen during exercise or sleep, you may also need it for air travel. Talk with your respiratory specialist well before your trip. They will decide if you need to have oxygen on the plane.
- If travelling with oxygen during your flight, it is important to be aware of the requirements of your chosen airline before you travel. Our Preparing for travel: Living with Pulmonary Fibrosis fact sheet offers tips on travelling with oxygen therapy. While this fact sheet is written for people living with pulmonary fibrosis, many of the tips are also useful if you have COPD.
- Some people travelling with COPD may find their symptoms will worsen due to low humidity or allergens in the air, so ensure you travel with a reliever inhaler.
Lung Foundation Australia’s free Respiratory Care Nurse telephone service is available for people living with COPD, bronchiectasis and silicosis. Our highly skilled nurses can provide guidance on all aspects of your condition according to the management guidelines. To learn more about the service and book an appointment, free call 1800 654 301 (option 3) or complete the online form below