9 Items to Bring on an Air Ambulance
Preparing for an air ambulance trip can be a stressful experience. Some patients have several weeks to talk with the air ambulance company and go over all of the minor details. Other patients may only have a few days, or hours, to get everything together. If you are flying in an air ambulance it is likely for a medical condition. So remembering a few key items to bring with you will ensure the most comfortable flight. What you need to bring on the air ambulance likely depends on your medical needs. But here are a few pieces of information and items that you should always have handy.
1. Enough prescription medication. Make sure you have enough medications for your air ambulance flight and your arrival. There could be travel delays that impact your arrival time. Many people who fly in an air ambulance are surprised to arrive at a hospital and the pharmacy is closed, and they ran out of medicine. It could even be the weekend, or the medicine you need is out of stock. Bring enough for the flight and for several days. Typically we recommend three days worth of prescription medication on every flight.
2. Passport. If you are overseas and looking to fly back into the United States, bring your passport. It’s just one of a few papers that you may need before boarding an air ambulance to ensure a stress-free entry or reentry back into the United States. Note that changing federal laws in the U.S. could impact you depending on where you travel from. Make sure to monitor Donald Trump’s immigration changes as it’s battled in court.
3. Medical records. If you are leaving on an air ambulance, bring your medical record with you. The flight nurse can reference your records and your destination will need them for admittance. We can help you facilitate this with your doctor or the hospital if you don’t have access to them yourself (or if you are booking for a family member).
4. Important contact numbers. Remember to have your doctor’s phone number with you if possible to speed up the process. It is also helpful for us to have the nurse’s station number and a case worker’s phone number, if applicable. The contact information for the destination hospital will also help us coordinate your arrival, especially if it is a bedside to bedside situation.
5. Pain medication. If you were prescribed pain medicine make sure to bring the proper dosage with you. If you need pain medication talk with your doctor to know how much you will need to last on the flight.
6. Supplies. Have enough of your personal items on board. If there is something that is of comfort to you that would like to bring (like a stuffed animal for a child), try to include it in your packing. Pack enough clothes for the duration of your stay.
7. Contact information. In addition to your medical records and passport, you may need additional personal information. Try to bring at least two forms of identification on your flight.
8. Emergency contacts. Aside from your personal info, bring contact information for an emergency, so we can reach out to a family member or friend. Your emergency contact or another close relative may travel with you in the air ambulance in most cases, if you wish.
9. Health insurance information. Whether you are traveling in the United States or another country, have your health insurance information handy. We will use it and the hospital(s) will use it as well. Make sure to have payment options with you as well, whether it be cash, credit or check. Your air ambulance bill and any medical costs will be billed to you, however it’s always a good idea to have extra money on hand just in case.
At Travel Care Air we are committed to personal service and will work with you to ensure you have all the items you need for a comfortable air ambulance flight. To learn more about our services please like us on Facebook.