Oxygen Tank?

[imagin231]

Hi everyone i need some advise. I am going to be traveling to WDW in January with my family. My father need's a oxygen tang to help with his breathing and this will be our first time to WDW with the tanks in fact traveling at all with the tanks. I know that the resort there will be no problem but I am worried about being in the parks with the tanks. My father has been sick on and off for the last two years and he said as soon as he feels better we were going to Disney to celebrate so I want this trip to be special and not to have any problems. I appreciate any help or advice anyone can give me. I do apologize if this is a subject that has been talked about in the past. I am new to the site and I didn't see much related. Thank you again!

Gina

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Hi and to both DisBoards and disABILITIES!

If you click on where it says "disABILTIES" at the top of this page it will take you to the Index. One of the top items is the "disABILTIES FAQ" which will gives lots of useful information, including in Post #3 and scroll down to oxygen. The first thing to do is contact a social worker at his current oxygen supplier. They will coordinate for him to get oxygen from a local supplier, and it will be seamless. Also you will need to work with the airline for oxygen use on board.

Or, if you want an easier route to the FAQs, click on the link in my signature.

 

[KPeveler]

First of all, in general, you cannot take O2 tanks on planes (in cabins), so if you are flying, you need to call the airline and figure out how to handle this.

Also, you will likely want to rent a wheelchair for your father. You definitely will NOT want to carry the O2 tanks, or drag them behind you on those little plastic wheels with the handle too low to comfortable pull it. If you rent a wc or ECV offsite, there are some companies that have O2 tank holders right on the chairs. These will not be available on park rentals, so definitely look into renting off-site. If nothing else, you can put the tanks in the wc and he can walk if he wants. Many of the paths are brick or cobblestone or "authentic," especially at AK, so pulling tanks (or anything with small wheels) can be rather difficult, so you either want a wc/ECV or a better holder for the tanks to get them through the parks.

I am not sure you need a GAC or not, since O2 is a "visual cue," but you will need to avoid stairs (I cannot imagine pulling the tanks up and down the stairs in lines), so perhaps someone else here can answer that question.

 

[minkydog]

See if you can rent a portable oxygen machine. My DH has one that he carries over his shoulder like a small handbag. The name of it slips my mind at the moment. It runs on battery for about 6-8hrs, then plug in to recharge. He uses it at night plugged in so he doesn't have to worry about it stopping during the night. This little oxygen dispenser is very easy to use and transport, no oxygen bottles required.

Oh, and definitely get a wheelchair. My DH can barely make it from the parking lot to the main entrance without some kind of conveyance. He can walk short distances, like halfway up Main Street, but then he has to sit down and rest. The w/c or ECV really saves his stamina