With careful planning and preparation, any child can experience the excitement of going on holiday – at home or abroad.
Travel
You should discuss your upcoming trip with your child’s healthcare team at your haemophilia centre. They will able to notify the haemophilia centre closest to where you are staying, and provide you with checklists and advice to ensure your child’s safety and wellbeing.
We have created a checklist below of essential things you need to remember to bring or do before your trip, which you can use as a guide in addition to speaking to the haemophilia centre. Leave plenty of time to get everything in order as certain documents and vaccinations may need to be prepared weeks in advance.
Our travel checklist:
– Doctor’s letter
– Wear medical identification information such as Medic Alert I.D.
– Factor and other treatment products
– A copy of your child’s prescription for both hand and stowed luggage
– Have you located and notified the nearest haemophilia centre to where you are staying?
– Have you told your local haemophilia centre?
– Travel insurance
– Vaccinations and immunisations
– First aid kit / extra supplies
Remember:
– Documents can take time to process, so make sure you have left enough time before your trip
– You can call your child’s haemophilia centre at any time, so if you’re concerned then don’t hesitate to call
– Telephone the local haemophilia centre if they are in need of treatment
– The standard of care can vary from country to country, and some countries may not provide haemophilia support. Therefore, if you are planning to travel to a country that does not have a haemophilia centre, you must discuss this with your child’s healthcare team beforehand to seek their advice
– Make sure there is more than one copy of the medical paperwork
– If your child is using factor you must carry it on you when flying in case it is lost or stolen in your stowed away luggage
– It’s helpful to tell the travel agent about your child’s condition so that they can make arrangements e.g. making sure there’s a fridge in your room for the factor
We believe that your child should be able to live their life to the fullest, and by taking our advice you can make sure your child has fun whilst being safe. If you require any further information, you can talk to a healthcare professional at your haemophilia centre and use the links below.
