Traveling with oxygen?

[Meg1884]

What has everyone's experience been when traveling to Disney with someone on oxygen? My MIL was recently put on oxygen and may have lung cancer. We have our trip already booked for May to celebrate my husband's birthday and since MIL might be sick we don't want to cancel since it could be her last big vacation. I'm just concerned with traveling with the oxygen tanks.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Hi and to 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. You might want to start with Post #3 and scroll down to the section on Oxygen.

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

But two somewhat simple and fast answers.

1. If flying, you have to check directly with your airline (ask Reservations for the "Special Services Desk") and get their specific rules.

2. Work with the Social Services worker at her current oxygen supplier. They will coordinate with a company in the Orlando area and it will be seamless as far as insurance coverage, etc.

 

[cm8]

What has everyone's experience been when traveling to Disney with someone on oxygen? My MIL was recently put on oxygen and may have lung cancer. We have our trip already booked for May to celebrate my husband's birthday and since MIL might be sick we don't want to cancel since it could be her last big vacation. I'm just concerned with traveling with the oxygen tanks.

I have had both great and poor experiences when traveling to DISNEY with O2. Are you all flying or driving? There are protocols one must following if flying. The treating physician of your MIL needs to fill out a form from the airline authorizing her to travel by air and with O2. Please contact the airline for further info.

If she has chain supplier ( apria, lincare) then she can arrange for delivery of O2 to the hotel free of charge. She should also make sure that she gets a oxygen supply kit (tubes, cannulas) as well for use at the hotel that way she can trash it when she leaves. I usually have Apria deliver me 20 m6's 4 e tanks and a stationary concentrator for use at night. The m6's I take with me to the park ( about 4 in a rolling back pack) and leave with first aid so that when I need to change them out, I can just go and get a room and cool down and change my O2. It is very relaxing and provides me with a much needed break from the heat and humidity.

Do you know how many liters of O2 your MIL is on. That is going to determine how many bottles of O2 she is going to need in addition to how hot and humid it will be will you are in WDW.
I know that when it gets hotter out and very humid, I have to bump up my O2 to meet my demands. It also means that I need to replace my tanks faster, so she needs to determine how many O2 bottles she is likely to require during that time. My O2 seems to evaporate faster when there is a lot of humidity in the air. Also, is your MIL on gas or liquid I forgot to ask, I just assumed it was gas since you said tank but there are liquid tanks as well. If she is using liquid O2 tanks, then she will need to make sure that she refills her tank before leaving for the parks and to keep checking the levels as liquid O2 evaporates way faster then the gas

I am not sure if your MIL intends to ride anything, but I have been able to take my m6's on every ride except RNC . I was able to use my portable O2 bag (shoulder strap) and hang onto it when riding anything. On some rides, I place it between my legs and hang on to it dearly while riding on, EE, BTMR, and Splash and space mountain.

Please make sure that she keeps her supplier information on hand in the unlikely event that she arrive to the resort and find that her O2 is a) not there or b) held hostage and or given away to someone other then her

I am sorry to hear that she may have LC and I hope that you all have a wonderful and memorable trip

If there is anything else you will like to know , please feel free to PM me

 

[Meg1884]

Thanks everyone! MIL is back in the hospital right now and they hope to do a biopsy next week. Once that gets done and we find out if it's cancer we'll go from there on if she'll be able to go with us or not. Fingers crossed it isn't LC and she can go on the trip. If she does I'll find out all the info you just gave me and go from there. Thanks!!!!

 

[jsilvers]

Are you all flying or driving? There are protocols one must following if flying. The treating physician of your MIL needs to fill out a form from the airline authorizing her to travel by air and with O2. Please contact the airline for further info.

Note that while airlines are required to allow passengers to use FAA-approved portable oxygen concentrators (with a doctor's note and subject to various other requirements), airlines are not required to allow passengers to use their own oxygen cylinders (and to my knowledge, none do, although some airlines do offer rental cylinders). This is an important distinction, as POCs are not sufficient for some individuals who need oxygen.

 

[SueM in MN]

Note that while airlines are required to allow passengers to use FAA-approved portable oxygen concentrators (with a doctor's note and subject to various other requirements), airlines are not required to allow passengers to use their own oxygen cylinders (and to my knowledge, none do, although some airlines do offer rental cylinders). This is an important distinction, as POCs are not sufficient for some individuals who need oxygen.

From what I have read, airlines are not even allowed to allow individuals to use their own oxygen cylinders. This is a safety requirement so the airline can have control of the condition of the cylinders.

That is a good point though about the airflow.

 

[jsilvers]

From what I have read, airlines are not even allowed to allow individuals to use their own oxygen cylinders. This is a safety requirement so the airline can have control of the condition of the cylinders.

Strictly speaking, FAA does not prohibit airlines from allowing passengers to use their own cylinders; it's just that the procedures that would be required to meet FAA standards (i.e., emptying and verifying the cylinders prior to flight) are so cumbersome as to be practically unworkable. See 70 Federal Register 53108, at 53114 (September 7, 2005) for a discussion of what would be required and why the Department of Transportation decided not to require airlines to adopt such procedures.

 

[SueM in MN]

Strictly speaking, FAA does not prohibit airlines from allowing passengers to use their own cylinders; it's just that the procedures that would be required to meet FAA standards (i.e., emptying and verifying the cylinders prior to flight) are so cumbersome as to be practically unworkable. See 70 Federal Register 53108, at 53114 (September 7, 2005) for a discussion of what would be required and why the Department of Transportation decided not to require airlines to adopt such procedures.

Thanks for the clarification. Seeing the required procedure, I can see why they would not want to do it. I know some of the airline websites had said they were not allowed, but it probably was a decision of their risk management department to make a policy that airline would not do it.