1. Going on holiday with an artificial limb? Check your artificial limb before leaving home
There is nothing more irritating than experiencing problems with your prosthesis while on holiday. So, check your prosthesis carefully before leaving for cracks, odd sounds or tears in your liner. Discover a problem? Schedule an appointment with your O&P professional to have your prosthesis repaired. Now you can go on holiday without any worries!
2. Put together a travel kit
Make sure you have everything you need with you during your trip. This lets you leave home with any worries. Suggested contents:
Soap
While on holiday, it’s important to keep your artificial limb clean, especially in a hot environment. So, include a bottle of mild antibacterial soap in your suitcase.
Antiperspirant
If you’re travelling to a hot or humid climate, you can keep the skin around your artificial limb dry with an antiperspirant like baby powder. Just make sure to talk to your doctor first. For more info, check out our 4 hot summer tips for people with an artificial limb.
Spare parts
It can be difficult to predict how your residual limb will respond to a different climate. The volume of your residual limb may decrease, for example, as a result of which your artificial limb may no longer fit properly. Consider bringing spare parts with you, such as extra prosthetic socks or other items that you normally use with your artificial limb.
Artificial limb care
If you like active holidays, you may develop a blister or wound during one of your many activities. Make sure you have care products with you to protect and treat your skin.
3. Flying? Take precautionary measures
Flying with a prosthesis is not always a picnic. You may be subjected to an extra inspection by customs officials or have to cover a long distance from the departure hall to the gate. So, take the necessary precautionary measures by informing the airline beforehand of any needs you may have while travelling. Need to borrow a wheelchair at the airport? Extra legroom? Extra baggage? Assistance during a short layover? Contact the airline, so that your airport experience will be a pleasant one.
4. Choose the right accommodations (and ask for help!)
Not all hotels, resorts, apartments or cruise ships offer all of the facilities you might need for a comfortable stay. Which facilities are important to you, of course, is individual. So, make a list of all of the facilities you need and select your accommodation based on these criteria. Of course, that is not always easy, so don’t hesitate to use a travel agency, travel agent or holiday organisation to plan your trip.