Having a bleeding disorder shouldn’t keep you from seeing the world. Just ask Devin Smith, a recent college graduate in Iowa with von Willebrand disease who completed a study abroad program.
“During my four months overseas, I was able to travel all around Ireland, as well as to Scotland, Germany, Czechia, Austria, Slovakia, and Italy,” Smith says. “I’ve also traveled with my family to Bulgaria and Switzerland.”
His No. 1 piece of advice is to be well prepared. Here are his top travel tips.
Work with Your HTC Nurses
Smith recommends meeting with your hemophilia treatment center (HTC) nurses before you travel. They can help you confirm the appropriate medications and supplies to pack, review your current treatment plan to carry with you, and talk through where the nearest HTC might be at your travel destination, says Tami Bullock, RN-BC, BSN, a nurse coordinator at the Iowa Hemophilia and Thrombosis Center in Iowa City.
“An HTC nurse can also review your plan for receiving infusions if you need assistance and help you to know if you have emergency care insurance coverage while traveling,” Bullock says.
Request a Travel Letter
This document, signed by your health care provider, outlines your diagnosis and everything a medical team would need to know to treat you when you’re away from home. It should include 24-hour contact information for your regular HTC should questions arise.
“The travel letter has been extremely helpful for when I go through airport security, too,” Smith says. “I just ask them to read the letter, and it explains everything.”
Bullock says the travel letter serves as authorization for security agents to allow medications and supplies, including liquids and needle products, to be in your carry-on luggage. “Have your prescription label on each box, vial, or bottle of medication,” she says.
Safely Transport Your Supplies
Check the storage requirements for your factor products and other medications. Many must be refrigerated, which means you’ll need to transport them in a cooler with ice. “Use caution with hotel refrigerators, which sometimes have areas where items can freeze,” Bullock says.
“Don’t leave factor exposed to extreme temperatures, hot or cold,” she adds. “Don’t leave it in a hot car or on the beach.”
If traveling by air, carry your cooler on the plane with you instead of checking it in your luggage to avoid the risk of it being lost in transit. If you’ll be gone for more than a week or two, consider shipping your supplies to your destination.
Have a Trusted Travel Buddy
Wear an up-to-date medical ID tag throughout your travels. Also, when Smith goes with others, he makes sure that at least one person in his group is aware of his bleeding disorder.
“That way,” he says, “they can help advocate for me if I’m unable to advocate for myself.”
For more tips on traveling with a bleeding disorder, visit Steps for Living or our tips for traveling around the holidays.