Teenagers &
Young Adults
Travelling
The information on this site is intended as a general guide, but the website www.travelfactor.co.uk has a whole host of additional information.
Whether it is a family holiday you are planning or a longer trip it's important to remember that with careful planning many of the potential worries can be eliminated.
Going overseas, particularly to developing countries, can present certain challenges. However, a list of treatment centres in the country being visited, plus a letter explaining about your haemophilia care in the language of that country, can be invaluable.
Some things to think about when planning a trip include:
- Always make sure to take plenty of medication as it is likely to be harder to get in certain parts of the world
- Insurance - there are certain insurance companies that cover pre-existing conditions and a list of these can be found on The Haemophilia Society website along with some other handy hints. As with most insurance you should check carefully to see what is covered and should ensure that the cost of any treatment you take with you is covered, and that the policy covers the cost of treating ‘spontaneous' bleeds as well, as this may be considered separately from routine prophylactic treatment
- It is very important that you always take your factor treatment with you, as it may not be available abroad or may be difficult and costly to obtain. In addition, you should always take enough medication for the whole trip as well as a little extra in case you are unlucky enough to have a bleed
- Some factor treatments can be stored at room temperature (please refer to your product information for more details). If this is not the case you will need to arrange a cool storage place for the medication, preferably in a fridge, or if you are travelling, in a cool bag with ice.
- When flying, particularly in this time of heightened security, you will need to plan well in advance as you will need to carry sharp implements (needles) onto the plane. This means that you should check with the airline and The Haemophilia Society in advance of departure regarding regulations about transporting of medications and needles and you will need to carry a valid doctor's letter with the medication
- In an emergency it is worth telephoning the nearest Haemophilia Centre and the contact details may be found on the website www.travelfactor.co.uk
Travel Letter
It is important to make sure when travelling that you have a travel letter from your doctor with you at all times. This letter should be on headed paper and signed by your doctor or nurse. The letter should give details of the type and severity of your haemophilia and the medication that you will require in case of a bleed. It must give details of the medication you will be carrying and the dosages that should be administered. Examples of the content of the letter and translations for non-English speaking countries may be found on www.travelfactor.co.uk
