Traveling with oxygen tanks is extremely difficult. But do you have any better options? YES!
Listen in as we discuss the options you have when you are prescribed oxygen therapy. You don’t have to give up traveling, nor should you!
Let’s talk about Jeanine.
Jeanine is on oxygen therapy, and that might be a problem for her. When Jeanine had to go to the hospital 4 months ago because she was having trouble breathing, the hospital set her up with oxygen tanks and a home concentrator. Everything changed for Jeanine that day.Simply getting to the grocery store and doctor’s appointments with these heavy tanks exhausted her. Luckily Jeanine has loved ones around her to help transport her to these venues, but she hates being a burden and has always been independent her whole life.Jeanine wondered how in the world she would be able to get to her granddaughter’s wedding in El Paso. Jeanine has two options.
Oxygen Therapy Options
The first option is to lug all her heavy equipment in the car to El Paso. What does this look like exactly? Medical suppliers allocate 10 tanks per month… if you’re lucky. At Jeanine’s prescribed oxygen liter flow, that’s only about 30 hours of portable oxygen per month. With all those awkward tanks, a tank cart, regulator, tubing and don’t forget, that huge heavy home oxygen concentrator, Jeanine is looking at a minimum of 123 pounds of extra luggage alone! El Paso is eight hours away on a good day. So, the next question with this option is, does Jeanine have enough oxygen tanks to travel to and from El Paso and attend the reception dinner, wedding and any other events? The answers are always something like “hopefully” or “it depends.” Not very reassuring. One point is certain though. She most certainly will not have much oxygen left, if any, after this trip to get around town when she returns.
It was easy to see, traveling with oxygen tanks was going to be a huge hassle.
Either way, Jeanine must ration her life away. She can take the chance that her tanks will see her to El Paso and back and that she won’t need to go anywhere else for the rest of the month. But a woman like Jeanine has a life in the community. She’s normally out and about, making the town where she lives a better place. Staying home shouldn’t be her only option.
Fortunately, there is a better option than traveling with oxygen tanks.
Traveling with Oxygen Tanks or POCs
It wouldn’t have to be this way if Jeanine had a portable oxygen concentrator (POC). So, on to option two!
Most portable concentrators weigh in at around five pounds. Even with an extra battery and an external charger, Jeanine would only be looking at eight pounds at most! She held newborns in her arms that weighed more than that. Compare that to 123 pounds of awkward weight equals way less stress and way more independence. For Jeanine and her loved ones.
Portable Oxygen Concentrators offer roughly three to four full hours of good breathing on a single charge. With extra batteries or an external charger, there’s hardly any limit to Jeanine’s time out in town. Also, they plug into car chargers, and most people can sleep with a portable oxygen concentrator! So, there’s no worry about going on the road or having to drag a boat anchor to the car and to the hotel room.
Flying and Oxygen Therapy
There’s this, too: tanks can’t go with you on airplanes, but portable oxygen concentrators can.
If you were Jeanine, what would you do?
I know I’d get a portable oxygen concentrator. Trading tanks, carts, and bulky home concentrators that I can’t even take on planes with me for a few pounds I can sling over my shoulder seems to be an obvious choice. Not having to worry about making the people I love slow down so I can keep up or arranging for someone to be my babysitter is a no-brainer. And I don’t think I’m alone.
Think about where you want to go–and GO! Don’t ration your next trip by fooling around with bulky oxygen equipment. Make the wiser choice by filling out your information below, and we’ll work to get your insurance to pay for a portable oxygen concentrator for you. If we can’t bill your insurance, don’t worry. You’ll automatically qualify for the lowest rate you’ll find anywhere–about $2.29 a day!
If you want a better life, you’ve got to do something different. Something wiser.
Let us show you how We Help Harder at Wise Owl. Your independence will thank you!
