| Travel by air for people with health
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| | pace or are you a slow walker?
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| issues, handicaps, disabilities or
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| | If you will be traveling through
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| special needs, can be challenging. The
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| | different time zones, how will jet lag
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| following air travel tips will help make
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| | affect your situation?
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| your flight and trip, whether domestic or
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| | Consider how the following will be of
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| international, easier, cheaper and safer.
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| | concern during your trip and discuss with
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| When making your travel reservations,
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| | your travel agent: upper body strength,
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| request any carts, wheelchair services or
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| | communication ability, speech issues,
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| any other transportation you'll need.
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| | voice issues, vision problems, hearing
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| Fully describe your limitations and
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| | problems, heat issues, medication needs,
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| needs. Get your airline ticket and
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| | oxygen requirements, and dietary
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| boarding pass well ahead of time so you
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| | requirements such as gluten-free meals.
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| don't have to wait in any lines. You'll
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| | Try to arrange or book your air travel
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| be able to arrange travel at a discount,
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| | through experienced travel agencies or
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| get better travel deals, and avoid last
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| | tour operators that specialize in
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| minute travel headaches.
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| | disabled travel. There are a large
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| Talk with your airline representative or
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| | number of agencies throughout the U. S.,
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| travel agent regarding the type of
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| | Canada, Europe, Australia and many other
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| restrooms that are on the airplane. Call
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| | countries.
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| your airport and find out as much
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| | Just in case you need them, it's also
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| information as possible about the
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| | good to know if there are any travel
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| restrooms and handicapped parking at the
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| | agencies that specialize in disabled
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| airport.
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| | travel at your destination, for return
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| You'll need to find out how you'll be
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| | travel, local resources or travel
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| boarding the airplane at each of the
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| | services.
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| airports involved in your trip. You may
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| | At the airport let airline boarding
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| need another type of airplane or
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| | personnel know that you may need extra
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| alternative route so you'll have Jetways,
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| | time to board the plane. Sit close to
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| or jet bridges, into the plane from the
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| | the door at the gate so you're called
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| airport and not have to worry about
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| | first and then board at a comfortable
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| stairs.
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| | pace.
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| One year my mother and I were going to
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| | After the plane has landed, never get off
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| fly out of the San Jose, California
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| | the plane until you see or have your
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| airport and discovered after we arrived
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| | assisting device, wheelchair, travel
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| that we had to go outside on the ground
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| | wheelchair, etc. Flight attendants have
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| level with the wheelchair to the tarmac.
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| | to stay on the airplane until the last
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| Four airline employees had to carry my
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| | passenger leaves. They will help you
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| mother in the wheelchair up the steep
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| | while you're on the plane but once you're
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| steps to board the plane. This might be
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| | off the plane they won't be able to help
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| impossible if there are weight issues.
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| | you.
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| Think about what seat arrangement will
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| | Make sure you carry your medications and
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| work best for you needs. Would an aisle
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| | back-up prescriptions with you onto the
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| seat make it more convenient to get to
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| | plane, along with doctors' names,
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| the restroom? You'll want to avoid
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| | addresses, fax numbers for faxing
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| sitting in the emergency exit row. The
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| | prescriptions, phone numbers, medical
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| passengers in this row may be asked to
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| | diagnosis, names and dosages of
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| help others in an emergency situation.
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| | medications you're taking and any
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| Let the airlines and flight attendants
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| | allergies you have.
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| know if you have any assisting devices.
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| | Photocopy passports, airline tickets,
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| Find out the best way to store them so
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| | American Express Travelers Cheques,
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| they arrive without damage.
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| | credit cards, any important papers.
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| Always keep in mind what you can do
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| | Carry your health insurance information
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| easily and without assistance, as well as
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| | with you on the plane. Know what you'll
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| situations that would require help.
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| | do if you encounter a health problem or
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| Can you transfer to seats by yourself?
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| | medical emergency on your trip. Get
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| Will you need a transfer board or
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| | travel insurance to ensure less costly
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| assistance from airline staff?
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| | medical assistance. These emergency
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| Consider hiring a travel nurse if you
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| | bills may not be covered under your
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| have serious health or medical issues.
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| | health insurance policy. It'll ease your
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| There are traveling nurses networks.
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| | mind to have this back-up travel
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| Can you describe your wheelchair, scooter
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| | insurance and prevent costly emergency
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| or walker, dimensions, weight, type of
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| | medical charges on your trip. Emergency
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| tires, type of batteries, etc.? You may
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| | medical costs can run considerably higher
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| need to take along spare batteries. You
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| | than standard medical fees.
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| also may need to rent or buy a travel
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| | These air travel tips should provide good
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| wheelchair.
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| | insurance and help make your airplane
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| Make sure to mention to your travel agent
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| | travel, with health issues, handicaps,
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| or airline representative any assisting
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| | disabilities or special needs, easier,
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| devices you may need or already have like
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| | safer and cheaper.
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| canes and crutches. Do you need a slow
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