Portable oxygen concentrator for travel

Traveling with oxygen has become much easier with the development of portable oxygen concentrator for travel (POCs).

These devices are battery-powered, can be recharged, plugged into a wall or car cigarette lighter, and can be carried on airplanes.

There are several makes and models, with different characteristics, so it is important to choose the one that is best for you, which provides enough oxygen to maintain your saturation at 90 percent or more at rest and with activity.

POCs can be rented or purchased from various oxygen providers.

Oxygen for travel

Some people can become hypoxemic while traveling or living at high altitudes, hypoxia is a term to describe a lack of oxygen in the blood.

A simple pulse oximeter reading while at high altitude, at rest, and during activity, can determine if oxygen is needed at altitude.

Some labs may perform an altitude simulation test to determine your oxygen saturation at altitude.

This test involves breathing in a mixture of 16 percent oxygen, which is equivalent to the amount of oxygen in the air at 8,000 feet, and then taking a pulse oximeter reading.

Portable oxygen for travel

Traveling with portable oxygen in a car or other mode of transportation can seem difficult.

Before you start planning any type of oxygen trip, you will first need to get permission from your doctor to travel.

You may also need to sign a letter for the airline, train, bus, or cruise line you are traveling with.

Once you have obtained a doctor’s clearance to travel, you will need to be aware of the regulations and restrictions for traveling with oxygen.

Whether you’re traveling by car, bus, or plane, there will be some rules to follow and practical things you can do to make traveling on oxygen as easy as possible.

Oxygen for travelling by air

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires that anyone traveling on oxygen present a letter from their physician stating their need. The FAA has approved two types of portable medical oxygen devices and allows airline passengers to carry them on the plane.

The two oxygen devices work by filtering nitrogen from the air and supplying concentrated oxygen to the user. Because the devices do not carry compressed oxygen, they are not considered dangerous to flight safety.

If you are traveling by plane, check with your oxygen supply company to see if they carry one of the two portable oxygen devices. You will need a physician’s order for portable oxygen.

Some airlines may not allow passengers to carry FAA-approved devices and instead require passengers to use oxygen on board the airline.

Others may allow passengers to use their own oxygen on the runway, but switch to the plane’s oxygen once on board. Be sure to check with your airline before your flight to find out what their rules and restrictions are.

Traveling with oxygen by car

If you are traveling by car and your vehicle is large enough to carry your oxygen concentrator, you can take it with you and use it whenever and wherever it has electrical outlets.

Talk to your oxygen provider about how much backup oxygen you will need. They can also help you arrange oxygen pickup from another source at your destination if you are unable to bring your concentrator.

You’ll also want the number of an oxygen provider at your destination anyway in case you have a malfunction or other oxygen emergency.

It is important to store your oxygen out of direct sunlight and away from any heat source.

Traveling with oxygen by cruise ship

If you are dependent on oxygen or require oxygen therapy, you must supply your own oxygen, and meet certain requirements prior to boarding the ship.

Guests taking an oxygen cylinder or concentrator while on tour should provide in advance the dimensions of the device to accessible shore excursions.

Traveling with oxygen on airlines

Air travel exposes people to lower air pressure and lower than normal oxygen levels.

For most people, these changes are not noticeable. However, for patients with certain underlying lung conditions, small atmospheric changes can have significant and potentially serious effects.

Commercial airlines must provide a cabin pressure altitude of no more than 8,000 feet altitude.

Your pulmonologist can determine if air travel is safe for you. Your pulmonologist may request an altitude simulation test to help determine your ability to fly safely at this cabin pressure.

The only oxygen equipment allowed on an airplane is the portable oxygen concentrator (POC).

If you need oxygen in flight, you must carry a portable oxygen concentrator and inform your airline in advance.

They may require a letter from the doctor to verify the need for the POC on the plane. If you don’t have a POC, you can rent one for travel, either through your oxygen supplier or through websites.

Airplane cabin pressure effects on body

Exposure to low air pressure in flights.

The effects of increased altitude and associated reductions in air pressure can result in an expansion of air or gas trapped within the body. Trapped air or gas can be located in places that include:

Nasal sinuses
Tubes inside the ear
Abnormal pockets within the lung
Internal organs in the abdominal cavity

As atmospheric pressure drops, the trapped air expands. This explains the “ear noise” that most travelers are familiar with. When air is trapped in the chest, the expansion of the gas can be life-threatening.