Using your mini CPAP machine for travel is essential if you suffer from sleep apnea. There is no way to get around needing to use your CPAP machine for travel such as the Transcend II Travel CPAP Machine. For this reason here are my 12 CPAP Travel Tips that you should follow if you are taking a CPAP machine on an airplane.
Quick CPAP Travel Tips
1. Always Use Your Mini CPAP Machine For Travel
No matter where you go or how you are travelling, make sure to always use your CPAP machine. It will keep you breathing and it will allow you to sleep well and stay in your normal routine that your follow at home.
2. Travel CPAP Machine With Battery Power
One of the things that you always want to do when using your CPAP travel machine is to bring a portable power source with you. This is going to come in the form of a battery. If you are camping and don’t have the right power source, or don’t have an outlet, a CPAP battery pack can save your life. There are many small CPAP machines for travel such as the ResMed AirSense 10 CPAP Machine, which comes with the option for a separate portable battery pack.
3. Take It On The Plane
Can you carry on a CPAP machine on airplane? You certainly can and you certainly should, especially if the flight is long and you plan on sleeping, you should undoubtedly have it with you. If your luggage goes missing, you will still be able to breathe at night when you want to sleep.
4. CPAP Flying Rules
Airlines nowadays are really anal about what you can and cannot bring on board a flight. You definitely want to get clearance from your airline before you bring your compact CPAP machine for travel on board. You don’t want to run into a sticky situation and potentially have them deny you due to that breathing apparatus that may or may not be a bomb. Abiding by the rules of your airline is essential when it comes to taking a CPAP machine on an airplane.
5. Tell The Airline
If you are planning to use the small CPAP machine for travel on the airplane, you should let the airline know about it. This is especially true if you do not have a portable power supply and require an electrical outlet. This way you can ensure that you sit next to a power outlet and can still use your CPAP machine during the flight. You should also clearly label your CPAP machine so that airline employees can easily recognize it for what it is. You also might want to look up the specific regulations of the airline you are using regarding things like your mini CPAP machine for travel.
6. Get A Doctor’s Note
Another thing you should definitely do before travelling with your CPAP machine is to get a doctor’s note and medical certificate stating that you do indeed require your CPAP machine for basic survival. This way, no airline can deny you or your travel CPAP machine from getting onboard. If someone asks you what that contraption is for, you can show them your medical documentation as proof that you do in fact need your small CPAP machine for travel in order to survive.
7. Bring Extra Power Cords
One of the things you want to do is bring an extension cord and power adaptor. If you are going to a hotel room, especially in a foreign country, you need to bring an extension cord and power adaptor. There might not be a plug right next to the bed, so the extension cord will certainly come in handy. If you are in a foreign country, you will need the power adaptor for your CPAP machine to work. Although, this should not be a major problem because most modern travel friendly CPAP machines come with power adaptors that can be used for many different countries.
8. Use Data Management
A lot of mini CPAP machines for travel like the ResMed Airmini CPAP come with special data management programs. I sincerely recommend you take advantage of these. Being able to store all of your relevant data in terms of nightly CPAP usage is pretty important no doubt. Some of these apps even allow you to transfer data directly to your phone or tablet via Bluetooth.
9. Making Updates
The next thing that you should do when travelling is to update the time, settings and date on your CPAP machine. Doing so will ensure that all of your sleep data is properly recorded. Just don’t forget to change everything back to the original settings once you go back home.
10. Get The Right CPAP Machine To Take Traveling
When you go traveling, you want to make sure that you have a small and compact CPAP machine for travel. Consider upgrading from your current model to one that can do everything you need it to do. There are many travel friendly CPAP machines specially built for travelling, such as the Philips Respironics Dreamstation Auto CPAP Machine which is definitely one you should look into. On that same note, you probably want to bring some sleep apnea accessories along with you. Bringing an extra mask, cushions, and all of that other stuff will mean that you are always prepared in case something breaks or if you lose a piece of equipment.
11. Your Prescription
Another one of my CPAP travel tips is to bring your medical prescription with you. What if you mini CPAP machine for travel breaks down. If you have your prescription with you, getting a new CPAP machine shouldn't be an issue. If you have sleep apnea, you don't want to get stranded somewhere without your life preserving device.
12. Inspection
Before you get on the airplane, you will have to go through security, just like everyone else has to. To make the process faster, you should remove your travel CPAP machine from it's carrying case and place it in the bins provided. This way the agents can swab the machine for drugs, explosive residue, and they can X-ray it quickly. It just helps to make things quicker and easier.
Tips For Taking A CPAP Machine On An Airplane Conclusion
When it comes to taking a CPAP machine on an airplane or on holiday, you should definitely follow all of these tips. They aren't hard to follow, but they can certainly ensure that your holiday is as enjoyable as humanly possible
Thanks for the good information. I am going to Europe in a few weeks, and I think my “black box” for power works for both AC and DC. I want to take an extension cord, of course. Will a normal extension cord from the states be able to handle the different electricity in Europe? I don’t want to risk not having a working system the first night I am there. I do have the prong adapter necessary.
Hi Madeline, thanks for your comments. Check to make sure you CPAP can run on both 110V (US) and 220V (EU) automatically. Others things I would recommend aside from the extension cord is a travel adaptor/converter. Plug this into the wall and then attach your US extension cord to it, with the other end into a US power splitter. More often then not hotels only have one power point near the bed and the light is connected to it. You’ll probably want to be able to charge your other devices too, so definately take a power splitter with you. Hope this helps and have a good trip.