Author Archives: Jackie Aim

Fit to fly?

Not every child with asthma will need a medical assessment before they go on holiday. However, it is important to speak to your GP or specialist before booking a flight.
There are a variety of ways in which they may be assessed to decide if they are fit to fly.
The airline may also have their own medical paperwork that needs to be completed.

Medical clearance is usually required if your child:

Has an existing unstable medical condition.
Has a respiratory or heart condition.
Uses medical equipment, including oxygen, which will be required onboard.
They had a recent illness, surgery, injury or hospitalisation.
Are travelling for medical reasons, or to receive medical treatment.
Not all airlines use the same paperwork or tests so it is important that you check this with them. Do this before you make a booking so that you can be sure that your child will be allowed to fly.

Flying and asthma

Flying_asthma

The air pressure within the cabin of a commercial airplane is not the same as the air pressure at sea level. This means that when your child travels by plane, oxygen will not enter their body as easily as it does normally.
Anyone travelling in an aircraft will have a drop in the amount of oxygen getting into their blood, although they are unlikely to feel any different.
When you have asthma this can make your child’s symptoms worse. They may feel more breathless, their chest may feel tight.
The longer the flight lasts, the more likely they are to experience symptoms.
With the right medical advice and precautions, very few people experience problems when they fly.

Going to European Union Countries

Within the European Union:
There is an agreement that people from the UK will able to access oxygen supplies in the same way as local residents. This does not mean that it will be free – if a local resident has to pay a fee then so will you.

To access this you will require:

A letter from your specialist, GP or nurse detailing your condition. This should be translated into the language of the country you are visiting.
A copy of your European Health Insurance Card
A copy of your passport.
A cover letter requesting treatment under the reciprocal arrangement. This should be translated into the language of the country you are visiting.

In most cases, you will have to use the authorised oxygen company for the country you are travelling to.
You will also have arrange for permission from your accommodation to have the equipment delivered and installed. There may be additional costs involved in this.

Travel within the European Union

European Health Insurance Card entitles you to free or reduced-cost medical treatment in a European Economic Area (EEA) country and Switzerland. The EEA includes all European Union countries as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

The EHIC covers any medical treatment that becomes necessary during your trip, because of either illness or an accident.
You will be able to access to state-provided medical treatment in that country.
The treatment you or your family receive will be the same as a resident of the country you are visiting.

Information

Other countries may not offer all the things you get free of charge from the NHS. You may still need to make a financial contribution to the cost of your care. The EHIC is not a substitute for travel insurance. You must take out a private travel insurance policy before you travel. Make sure this will cover your child’s asthma and any other long-term health problems.
The EHIC does not cover:

the cost of bringing you back to the UK.
the cost of private healthcare or services that are not part of the country’s healthcare system i.e. some European countries have private ambulance services and you will be charged for your journey to hospital.

Apply for your FREE EHIC card at: EHIC – European Health Insurance Card.
You can also get forms from your local post office for your EHIC card.

Vaccinations

injection_vial

If you are travelling outside of the UK you and your child may need to be vaccinated against some of the serious diseases found in other parts of the world.
Some vaccinations are free, but you may have to pay for others. For more information visit NHS Inform.
Talk to your GP, practice nurse or travel health clinic about immunisations at least six weeks before travelling.
Some medicines or vaccinations have to be given well in advance of date of travel.
You can find out more about which vaccinations you may need by visiting NHS Fit For Travel.

Your child’s medication – on your journey

Carry your child’s medication and the GP letter in your hand luggage in case your checked on luggage goes missing. Store your medication in it’s original packaging.
Make sure you have all the medication your child will need in case of a delay in getting to your destination or getting back home.
If you plan to carry liquid medication which is more than 100ml you will need to get agreement from the airline and the departure airport. Also be prepared to verify the liquids by tasting them.
If your holiday destination is in a different time zone, you may find that your child is taking their regular medications at awkward times. You may wish to gradually adjust the times that they need to take these to fit in with the local time. Your doctor or pharmacist can help you to plan how to make this adjustment.
If you are unsure whether you are allowed to take your medications into a country you can check with their high commission or embassy.

Your child’s medication –before you travel

Make sure that you take enough of your child’s regular medicines to last for the whole trip. Let your GP /Pharmacist know of your plans so that arrangements can be made in advance to get all the medicines your child will need.
If your child has medication given by injection for example insulin or an Epipen you must ask you GP or nurse to write a letter to take with you to inform cabin crew so they can safely dispose of used needles. You or your child must be able to do the injections yourselves as cabin staff will not normally do this.
Ask your doctor or nurse to provide a letter describing your child’s asthma and medication. This is useful should they become unwell abroad. If you are travelling by plane it will also be required by airport security.

Helpful information to include in the letter is:

Your name and address
Your date of birth
Your dates of travel in and out of the country
The country you are visiting
The medicines you are taking, including the doses and the total amounts The trade names of some medicines may vary from country to country, so it helps to record the drug (generic) names of your medicines, as well as the trade (brand) names.

Insurance

travel_insurance Arrange full travel insurance as early as possible before going away.

It is up to you to make sure that you inform the insurance company of your child’s medical history and answer all their questions honestly. Check that your insurance policy covers all of your child’s asthma and any other medical conditions. Withholding information may make your insurance invalid.
It is important to have travel insurance as it will protect you against having to pay huge medical bills if your child or someone in the family are unwell or have an accident while abroad.
Take your insurance documents away with you, and keep them in a safe place. When travelling keep them in your hand luggage.
If you are planning to take more than one trip an annual travel insurance policy is often more cost effective.
If you are going on holiday in Europe you can apply for a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). This entitles you to free or reduced cost medical treatment if your child is ill when travelling in Europe. It is not a replacement for travel insurance.

CHSS cannot make any specific recommendations but does have contact details for companies known to be sympathetic to people affected by chest illness.

Your destination

Flying_asthma Think about:

How far away are all the things you’d like to see and do? – how far is your child willing or able to walk?
The terrain – is the resort very hilly or has lots of stairs?
Will you need to use public transport – are there good links in the area you are looking at.
What is the climate like? Are your child’s symptoms made worse by very hot, cold or humid conditions?
What is the air quality like? Some large cities have a lot of pollution that may make your child’s asthma symptoms worse.
Remember destinations that are at high altitude can make your child feel more breathless.

Is your child fit to travel?

It is important that you discuss with your GP or healthcare professional before booking a holiday.
They can give you advice and information, as well as discussing any concerns you have about your child’s asthma.
If your child’s asthma is difficult to control they may need an assessment to check if they are fit to fly. There are a variety of ways in which a health care professional may assess whether they are “fit to fly”
The airline may have their own medical paperwork which needs to be completed. This may involve some tests.
Not all airlines use the same paperwork or tests so it is important that you check this with them. Do this before you make a booking so that you can be sure that your child will be allowed to fly.
Remember there are many places within the UK and Europe that you can visit without having to fly.