I
will be traveling to my 25th High School reunion tomorrow, so I
thought I would discuss travel and epilepsy.
There are some considerations people with epilepsy need take. Especially when flying, there are some things
that they should do to travel safely.
First,
carry more medications than you will need.
Pack them in their original bottles and put them in more than one
location. Definitely put it in your
carry-on luggage. If you have a medical
device such as a vagus nerve stimulator, make sure to carry the documentation
with you.
Second,
make sure to carry two copies of your doctor’s letter stating that you are fit
to travel.
Third,
if you are traveling across time zones, make sure you know how to space out
taking your medications.
Fourth,
wear a medic alert bracelet.
Fifth,
carry a document of emergency contacts.
My
personal recommendation is to get a wheelchair and preboarding access when
flying. It makes the air travel
experience go much more smoothly and stress-free. It is necessary if you have seizures. The less stress you have, the less likely you
are to have seizures. You will bypass all
the long lines in security and get to the gate and be settled on the plane
before all the other passengers. The wheelchair
may seem extreme to some people, but if you have a long flight going through
some huge airports and have to make connections, they are all worth it! And don’t forget to tip, preferably
beforehand. Most of the time, that
ensures you of good service.
Some
airlines may not want people with epilepsy to board their planes. However, this is against the law. People with epilepsy cannot be denied a seat
on an airplane. In terms of health
risks, air travel does not increase the risk of seizures. See link.
In
the meantime, safe travels everyone!
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