You might think of medical escorting in terms of emergency situations, with a team of paramedics transporting patients by ground or air ambulance to a hospital. However, a significantly larger number of people require medical escorting on commercial flights for non-emergency situations.
These situations vary widely based on the individual’s condition and circumstance. It could involve a transfer from one medical facility to another, a senior relocating to another home, or a person with a chronic disability needing a medical escort for safe travel.
This rapidly growing area of medical escorting ensures that patients travel safely and receive medical care if any issues arise during their journey. Flying Angels has emerged as a leader in the area of non-emergency medical transport (NEMT).
“We have nurses who will fly with the patient on a commercial flight and provide any medical care,” Flying Angels Managing Director Bob Bachelor said on the Generation Bold podcast. “We also have staff around the world, so if someone is in some faraway place and has a mishap and needs to get back to the United States but needs assistance, our nurses will fly with them.”
What Is a Medical Escort for Air Travel?
Medical escorting on commercial flights involves traveling with a skilled healthcare professional, often a flight nurse. At Flying Angels, all flight nurses are critical care nurses trained to provide medical support at high altitudes.
Some may be familiar with medical escorts and flight nurses for their role in emergency response. In such cases, they provide vital assistance to individuals injured in accidents or affected by natural disasters, ensuring their condition remains stable until they reach a medical facility.
In a non-emergency medical transport (NEMT) situation, medical escorts provide care and medical support to individuals traveling by ground or air. Flying Angels specializes in arranging travel for patients, making any special arrangements with the airport or airline, and assigning a flight nurse to accompany the patient on commercial flights.
How NEMT Medical Escorting Benefits Travelers
The primary benefit of having a medical escort is the continuous expert medical care throughout the journey. Whether you have a chronic medical condition, require regular medication, or need specialized equipment, a medical escort can manage your needs. They administer medications, monitor vital signs, and provide immediate medical attention, if necessary.
Personalized Assistance
Every traveler’s needs are unique, and a medical escort understands this. From assisting with mobility issues to ensuring a smooth transition during airport security checks, a medical escort offers personalized assistance tailored to your requirements. This level of care helps alleviate stress and ensures that you can focus on enjoying your trip rather than worrying about logistics.
Reduced Travel Anxiety
Traveling, especially for those with medical conditions, can often trigger anxiety about potential complications or emergencies. With a medical escort by your side, this anxiety is greatly reduced. Knowing that you have a trained professional ready to manage any medical situation provides a sense of security and peace of mind, allowing you to fully relax and enjoy your journey.
Seamless Coordination
Coordinating medical needs, travel logistics, and accommodations can be overwhelming. A medical escort takes care of these details seamlessly. They consult with airlines, hotels, and other service providers to ensure that your travel experience is as smooth as possible. This eliminates the stress of managing various aspects of the trip and allows you to focus on the experience itself.
Access to Medical Facilities
Traveling to unfamiliar destinations can raise concerns about accessing medical facilities in case of emergencies. A medical escort is well-versed in local healthcare resources and can guide you to reputable medical facilities if a need arises. This knowledge ensures that you receive prompt and appropriate medical attention, regardless of your location.
Companionship and Emotional Support
Traveling can be an emotional journey, and a medical escort provides not only medical assistance but also companionship and emotional support. They listen, engage in conversations, and share experiences, making your trip more enjoyable and enriching.
Customized Itineraries
A medical escort understands your medical needs and limitations, allowing them to help you create a customized travel itinerary. They can suggest activities and attractions that are accessible and suitable for your condition, ensuring you make the most of your trip.
Peace of Mind for Loved Ones
For family members and loved ones concerned about your well-being during travel, a medical escort offers reassurance. They provide regular health updates and ensure that your medical needs are taken care of, giving your loved one peace of mind. For those seeking travel with medical assistance, NEMT services like those provided by Flying Angels provide a solution. Whether it’s senior relocation or traveling with a chronic condition, NEMT services can provide the necessary assistance.
Anyone can travel with a nurse if they need medical assistance to safely travel or feel more comfortable having an experienced nurse with them. Many people who hire a travel nurse do so because they have a disability or injury that makes traveling alone impossible, or they are seniors who want the benefit of medical assistance over the course of their journey.
For those who want to travel with a nurse, the first step is to contact a Non-Emergency Medical Transport (NEMT) company. Experienced RN flight coordinators help clients book their travel and also assign an experienced flight nurse to accompany them. These nurses also have certification and specialized training for what they do.
Who Needs To Travel With a Nurse?
Flight nurses who work with NEMT companies provide support and medical care for a wide variety of travelers.
Serious Injuries
Traveling with a broken leg or other type of serious injury is doable (with a doctor’s permission) but also difficult, especially if equipment such as a wheelchair is required. Even younger travelers may have difficulty dealing with the many issues that can arise. A flight nurse ensures they have a medical professional on hand for any care they need, as well as help navigating the airport, security and boarding at the gate.
Chronic Conditions and Disabilities
Chronic medical conditions or disabilities that restrict range of motion, cause people to tire easily, involve frequent pain, or impact a person’s mental faculties can make getting through the airport and the flight experience challenging. Flight nurses have years of experience in working with people who have such conditions, giving them the support they need and working with airport and airline officials to make travel as convenient as possible.
Medical Repatriations
Travelers who have sustained injuries while outside the country often contact NEMT companies for what is known as medical repatriations, which involves bringing them back home safely and quickly. Experienced NEMT companies and flight nurses have connections around the world and understand how to work with medical professionals in other countries, getting patients moved back to the United States and into the care of their regular doctors.
Seniors
As the United States population ages, seniors – some of them relocating to a new home – and their families increasingly depend on flight nurses to support them during their travels. For many, it’s overwhelming to deal with the crowds, noise and sometimes confusing signage at airports, making it easier for them to travel with a nurse who can provide guidance throughout the experience. For those with medical equipment and medications, flight nurses also keep track of everything, administering medication when needed and keeping track of medical equipment.
Flight Nurses Work With Airlines, Airports
One of the major benefits of deciding to travel with a nurse involves their experience in working with airline and airport officials. While making all the arrangements for a client’s travel, flight nurses also call ahead to airlines and airports, asking in advance for special equipment (such as a wheelchair) or considerations (such as the ability to board the plane first) that a passenger may require.
People can hire a flight nurse for a commercial flight through an NEMT company, where a flight coordinator works with clients to plan and book a trip. You can travel with a nurse on both domestic and international flights, making it a convenient service no matter your destination.
Vegetarians might find it more difficult to find something good to eat during a flight or even at the airport, but they also have the advantage of having eating habits that work well with flying. When a vegetarian eats before a flight, they won’t have to worry about the processed foods and high protein meats that can make you feel bloated once you’re in the sky.
When it comes to choosing the right food to eat before a flight, vegetarians have plenty of good choices. For those traveling with a flight nurse, run any ideas you have by them before committing to making them your pre-flight meal.
Choices For Vegetarians to Eat Before a Flight
Vegetarians focus on eating healthy food, so they are already ahead of the game when it comes to choosing the right food for their flight. Keep in mind that before and during the flight, you want to keep your portions small. Air pressure in the cabin can cause food to expand – you want to avoid that bloated feeling! A smart strategy is to stop eating before you are completely full.
As with most things in life, moderation is the key. Too much of a good thing, including the food suggestions, can lead to discomfort on a flight.
Stay Hydrated
Before reaching for any food, make sure you have plenty of water. The air inside a plane at high altitudes is dry, so you want to hydrate before getting on a flight. A general rule of thumb is to drink about one liter of water for every four hours of your flight. Putting a slice of lemon in the water can give you an extra boost of vitamin C.
Some Helpful Fruits
Fruits can provide just the right thing to make a flight more pleasant. Oranges, guava, cantaloupe, strawberries – they all come loaded with high amounts of vitamin C. A potassium-rich banana can also help prevent cramping of your legs during a long flight, and also is an excellent anti-bloating food.
Nuts
Eating nuts (unsalted to avoid dehydration) is one of the best ways to get protein without eating meat. Some of the healthiest nuts include almonds, cashews, chestnuts, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios, and walnuts.
Crackers and Dips
As long as you eat moderate amounts, a bit of nut butter spread or hummus with crackers or bites of vegetables can give you a bit of needed protein before the flight, keeping you feeling full during your journey.
Think Carbohydrates
While you want some protein to give you energy and stave off hunger, you also want to focus on slow-burning carbohydrates, especially for a long flight. They will keep you feeling fuller for longer. Again, moderation is key – don’t overeat any of those fruits and vegetables with slow-burning carbohydrates.
Apples
Berries
Oranges
Carrots
Cauliflower
Broccoli
Red Peppers
Onions
Green Beans
Grains also provide carbohydrates and some protein, including brown rice, rolled oats and quinoa.
Foods to Avoid
Avoid salty foods that can increase dehydration, caffeine, sugar, or big helpings of vegetables that can be hard to digest during a flight. Avoid any type of beans or spices that might upset your stomach. Also, the hours before a flight are not the time to try a new food that your body is not used to processing.
Keep these ideas in mind for what a vegetarian can eat before a flight. It will make the trip much more pleasant, and also leave you feeling healthy and ready to go once you reach your destination.
10 tips for staying properly hydrated on your next flight, according to expertsMarch 30, 2022 Between the routine disruption, free-flowing drinks, overuse of hand sanitizer and dry airplane cabins, staying hydrated while flying is no small feat. But it’s one of the...
