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FLYING WITH CPAP


Posted by Keith Jackson on August 09, 2000 at 12:59:12:

I am entering this discussion rather late but have something to add to the critical issue of CPAP Users Aloft. Walla Walla Kev's list of compliant (and semi compliant)airlines was great - very useful.

Qantas allows CPAP units they have technically endorsed (no humidifier) and provide on board assistance with plug in. Having just traveled without a battery and finding American (JFK-LAX-HON) & British (DUB-LHR-JFK) not permitting plug in, unsuccessfully fighting off sleep, and feeling wretched at journey's end, I will in future be lugging a non-spillable battery on board as well as 2 (yep, back up, I get twitchy just thinking of sleeping without it) CPAPs.

To cut to the chase. I have taken up this issue with BA and AA (urging them to allow CPAP to be plugged into on board power) and with Qantas (their partner airline) urging it to press the matter with BA and AA.

BA's medical office in London claimed it was "unsafe" to plug CPAP into on board power. AA said the FAA didn't allow it.

I located a conference paper by AA's corporate medical director, Dr David McKenas, who wrote "Aviation medicine involves not only dealing with the health concerns of people but the unusual environments in which those people go". He said AA's aviation medicine policy was based on the medical dictum of "primum non nocere" (first do no harm). I have communicated to AA that they should follow up these fine words with some practical action for CPAP users.

By the way, at 37,000 ft, waking up after non-CPAP sleep, I took my blood pressure. It was soaring into stroke territory. This left me highly motivated to take some action.

Let's keep this subject alive and, where possible, individually and collectively lobby the airlines so it is more than Qantas, Swiss and Cathay who permit electrical hook-up and ensure we arive at our destinations in good shape.



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