1. Check your prosthesis 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 – It’s important to keep your prosthesis clean, especially in a hot environment. So, include a bottle of mild antibacterial soap in your bag.
- Antiperspirant – If you’re travelling to a hot or humid climate, you can keep the skin around your prosthesis dry with an antiperspirant like baby powder. Just make sure to talk to your doctor first.
- Extra parts – It can sometimes be difficult to predict how your residual limb will respond in a different climate. The volume of your residual limb may decrease, for example, as a result of which your prosthesis will no longer fit properly. So, consider bringing extra parks with you, such as extra prosthetic socks or other items that you normally use in combination with your prosthesis.
- Residual limb care – Enjoy an active holiday? All of the activities may result in the onset of a blister or sore. So, 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.