Transcript Slide 1

Bon Voyage!
Travelling with a bleeding disorder
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PURPOSE
Travelling is often an adventure filled with
challenges, especially for people with bleeding
disorders.
With the right planning these challenges can
usually be overcome. The goal of this module is
to help people with bleeding disorders reduce
the risks of travel so they can enjoy their
adventure to its fullest.
B O N V O YA G E !
T R AV E L L I N G W I T H A B L E E D I N G D I S O R D E R
1.
Travel
CHALLENGES
2.
Travel
INSURANCE
3. INFORMATION
to carry
4. PREPARATIONS
with your treatment team
5. TRANSPORTING
clotting factor
6. SPECIAL NEEDS
7. INFUSING EN ROUTE
8.
Top 10 travelling
TIPS
CONCENTRATES
TRAVEL CHALLENGES
CHALLENGES FOR TRAVELLERS
WITH BLEEDING DISORDERS

Getting through airport security and border crossings with
factor products, needles and syringes.

Packing bulky clotting factor concentrates.

Ensuring you carry medical information.

Knowing where to find medical care.

Arranging for special travel needs.

Obtaining travel insurance.
CHALLENGES
TRAVEL INSURANCE

Strongly recommended
outside Canada!

Pre-existing conditions may be covered unless, in the last 3
to 6 months, you…
−
consulted a physician (other than for a regular checkup);
−
were hospitalized;
−
were prescribed
medication;
−
were prescribed a change to an existing treatment or
medication.
or
received
a
new
treatment
or
INSURANCE
BENEFITS …
…
TRAVEL INSURANCE
When applying for insurance,
always tell the truth about
your bleeding disorder.
Failure to provide all health
information
will
void
any
claim.
INSURANCE
BENEFITS …
INFORMATION TO CARRY
MEDICAL INFORMATION

FactorFirst or TreatFirst cards


MedicAlert bracelet or necklace
Letter of authorization from HTC to carry
concentrates, needles and syringes, contact
information for HTC. The letter, written in
English, should include:
−
−
−
−
−
−
−
Name of patient
Description of medical disorder
Contact information for HTC
Name of physician
Type of medication
Types of supplies
Types of implants that might set
off security alarms
INFORMATION BENEFITS
TO CARRY…
…
INFORMATION TO CARRY
HTC s AROUND THE WORLD
It is essential to have a list of all the hemophilia
treatment centres (HTCs) on your itinerary.
The World Federation of Hemophilia publishes an
annual list of the HTCs in over 100 countries.
www.wfh.org
INFORMATION BENEFITS
TO CARRY…
…
INFORMATION TO CARRY
EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION

Emergency contacts at home

Your treatment centre contact information

Contact information for treatment centres on your route

Travel insurance provider information

Health insurance provider information
Use the CHS Travel Card!
INFORMATION BENEFITS
TO CARRY…
PREPARATIONS WITH TREATMENT TEAM
SOME OF THE QUESTIONS YOU NEED TO ASK :
1.
Should I take a dose of factor before boarding the plane?
2.
Should I change my prophylaxis schedule or temporarily adopt a
prophylaxis regime?
3.
How many doses of my treatment (factor
desmopressin or antifibrinolytic) should I take?
4.
How should I pack and store my medications?
5.
How should I keep my infusion records while travelling?
6.
Do I need to carry prescriptions for these medications?
concentrate,
PREPARATIONS
BENEFITS …
…
PREPARATIONS WITH TREATMENT TEAM
7.
Should I bring analgesics with me and, if so, which ones?
8.
Should I bring a First Aid kit with me and, if so, what should I put
in it?
9.
Do I need to see a travel clinic for vaccinations?
10. Should I contact the HTC at my destination before
leaving home?
11. Should I sign a Release of Medical Records form
at my HTC so my records can be forwarded to
another health care facility if needed?
12. What should I do in an emergency?
PREPARATIONS
BENEFITS …
…
PREPARATIONS WITH TREATMENT TEAM
The Canadian Association of Nurses in
Hemophilia Care (CANHC) has published a
booklet called
Planning Travel:
A Guide for People with Bleeding Disorders
PREPARATIONS
BENEFITS …
…
TRANSPORTING CLOTTING FACTOR CO NCENTRATES

Check the package insert (or product monograph) for precise
temperature storage instructions.

NEVER leave factor in the car in the hot sun!

NEVER put factor in your checked baggage!

If bulky, re-package vials,
needles and syringes in
special carrying case.

NEVER let the security agent
touch your supplies without
clean gloves.
TRANSPORTING
PREPARATIONS
BENEFITS
FACTOR…
…
TRANSPORTING CLOTTING FACTOR CO NCENTRATES
AIRPORT SECURITY

Carry a personalized letter.

Know the latest airport security rules.

Ensure the medication is properly labelled.

Declare medication separately from other liquids.
TRANSPORTING
BENEFITS
FACTOR…
SPECIAL NEEDS
MOBILITY ASSISTANCE

If you expect to need assistance at any airport on your itinerary,
contact your airline, when possible at least 24 hours in advance.

Beware! Quality of service varies.
SPECIAL
BENEFITS
NEEDS
……
SPECIAL NEEDS
SPECIAL SEATING ON PLANES
By contacting your airline, it is possible to request a seat:

with movable armrests

close to the washrooms and exits

with extra legroom
See www.seatguru.com
EXPRESS / PRIORITY LINES
Airport security and even some tourist attractions have express/priority
lines for people with mobility limitations. Just ask!
SPECIAL
BENEFITS
NEEDS
…
INFUSING EN ROUTE

If you need to infuse on a train or plane, ask for a place where you
have sufficient room and can concentrate.

In an airport, if you cannot find a quiet,
suitable location to infuse, ask for help
in finding a First Aid station.

If none of these suggestions work, find a
table (as secluded as possible), lay out
your supplies and give your infusion.
There is no reason to be shy!
INFUSING EN
BENEFITS
ROUTE…
…
INFUSING EN ROUTE
WHAT TO DO WITH
“ SHARPS ”

It is critical that “sharps”, that is, needles, be disposed of safely after use.

If you don’t have a “sharps” container, carefully replace the plastic guards
on the needles and store them together inside another secure container. If
your trip is short, bring them home to dispose of.

If your trip is longer, find a medical facility that will accept to dispose of
them for you. Some airports have “sharps” containers in washrooms.

Vials and syringes
can be discarded in
the regular waste
disposal.
INFUSING EN ROUTE …
INFUSING EN ROUTE
KEEPING INFUSION RECORDS
IT IS JUST AS IMPORTANT TO KEEP GOOD INFUSION RECORDS
WHILE TRAVELLING AS WHEN AT HOME.

If you use a paper-based infusion record, take your forms along with
you.

If you use an electronic or Web-based device, and can’t take it with
you, make your own paper log. Record:
−
Date and time of infusion
−
Lot number
−
Number of units infused
−
Reason for infusion: Bleed (indicate site), prophylaxis or immune
tolerance induction therapy.
INFUSING EN
BENEFITS
ROUTE…
TOP 1 0 TRAVELLING TIPS
1. Discuss your travel plans with your treatment team.
2. Carry a personalized letter from your treatment centre describing
what supplies you have and why you must carry them with you.
3. Carry an up-to-date FactorFirst or TreatFirst card.
4. Wear a MedicAlert necklace or bracelet.
5. Have a list of all the hemophilia treatment centres on your itinerary.
6. Carry several copies of your emergency contact information.
7. Obtain travel insurance, if possible.
8. Check the package insert (or product monograph) for precise
instructions on the storage conditions of the product you use.
9. Never keep your medication in your checked luggage!
Always keep it with you.
10.Keep good infusion records while travelling.
TRAVELLING
BENEFITSTIPS
…
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The CHS would like to acknowledge those people who contributed
to the development of Navigating the emergency department.
C L AR E C E C C H I N I
National Program Manager, Canadian Hemophilia Society (retired)
M Y L E N E D ’ F AN A
Vice-President, Canadian Hemophilia Society
DEB G UE, RN
Nurse Coordinator, Hemophilia Program, Adult Division, St. Paul’s Hospital, Vancouver, BC
ALEX LITTLE
Calgary, AB
D AV I D P A G E
National Executive Director, Canadian Hemophilia Society
N ORA S CHWETZ, R N
Nurse Coordinator, Bleeding Disorders Program, Health Sciences Centre, Winnipeg, MB
(retired)
Bon Voyage!
Travelling with a bleeding disorder
Navigating the emergency department
Charting your course
Home care: The road to independence
Destination fitness
Roadmap for managing pain
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