How can I travel with anaphylactic allergies?
If you have an allergy that can cause anaphylaxis, you may be nervous about travelling.
That’s understandable — but you should know that there are ways to travel with anaphylactic allergies.
So there’s no need to put your dreams on hold. Read our tips on travelling with anaphylaxis and start prepping for your trip.
What is anaphylaxis?
First, let’s take a look at anaphylaxis and what it means for people living with it.
Anaphylaxis is a severe — and sometimes life-threatening — allergic reaction that happens when a person is exposed to triggers.
These triggers can include:
- Food, including nuts, milk, fish, shellfish and eggs
- Bites or stings, including those from ticks, snakes, wasps and bees
- Certain medications, including penicillin and aspirin
Symptoms of anaphylaxis include:
- Swelling around the face, eyes and/or lips
- Hives (red itchy bumps on the skin)
- Abdominal pain and/or vomiting
- Difficulty breathing or talking
- Swollen tongue
- Dizziness or fainting
- Swelling or a feeling of tightness in the throat
- Wheeziness or a cough
- Children appearing pale and floppy
Treatment is usually through an adrenaline autoinjector, sometimes known as the brand name EpiPen. Hospital treatment may include being given oxygen, fluids, antihistamines or steroids.
If you suspect someone is experiencing anaphylaxis, lay them flat, inject their adrenaline autoinjector and call triple zero (000) for help.
You can read more about anaphylaxis on the Healthdirect website.
Can I travel with anaphylaxis?
The short answer is yes, you can travel with anaphylaxis as long as you follow some sensible guidelines. Let’s find out how you can plan a safe and memorable trip.
Steps to take before you travel
Take these steps before you leave:
- Make an appointment with your doctor to talk through any issues that may trigger anaphylaxis at your holiday destination. Together, you can write an emergency care plan with instructions on what to do if you have an anaphylactic episode. You can share this with travel and accommodation staff.
- Ensure that you have plenty of any medication you need to take with you, including your EpiPen and antihistamines. You should also make sure that anyone you’re travelling with knows how to use your EpiPen.
- Check your travel insurance for anaphylaxis and make sure that you’re covered at your destination.
- Reach out to your airline or other transport company and accommodation to tell them about your allergy and know what policies they have in place to protect you from triggers.
- Get yourself a medical ID wristband stating your allergy and the risk of anaphylaxis. You can choose a pre-printed medic alert or customise one yourself, for example, by writing on an instruction to use your EpiPen in an emergency. You can even choose a medical alert in the language of your destination.
Packing for your trip
This is your essential checklist for what to take on your trip:
- Bring your medication and extra quantities, just in case. Make sure you include your adrenaline autoinjector and take at least one spare. Pack your medication in your hand luggage so it’s easy to find.
- Take your travel insurance documentation.
- Prepare a record of who to contact in an emergency — this can be included on your medical ID.
- Have extra snacks to eat on the journey if you have a food trigger and don’t want to rely on what’s available on the plane or other mode of transport.
- Bring disinfectant wipes to clean any areas where you will be spending time.
- Download a language translator app if you’re travelling to a country where you don’t speak the language. This will help you ask questions about food ingredients when you’re eating out, for example.
Avoiding triggers at your destination
A few sensible precautions will mean that you can swerve triggers and enjoy your trip with peace of mind.
Food triggers
- If you’re planning on staying with family or friends, suggest you meal-plan together so you can be sure to avoid any food triggers.
- When eating out, be sure to tell the waiting staff that you have a severe allergy and double-check the ingredients of any dishes you order.
- Read the ingredients label when shopping for food, using a translator app if necessary.
Bites and stings
- Keep your skin covered, so opt for long-sleeved tops and trousers and always wear shoes or other footwear when outside.
- Apply insect repellent before you go out — choose one that contains 50% DEET (diethyltoluamide) for maximum effectiveness.
- Avoid strong-smelling perfumes and other products that may attract insects.
- If you’re eating outside, keep food and drink covered.
- To avoid mosquitoes, don’t camp outside near open water.
- Keep doors and windows closed in your accommodation to keep insects out.
- If you see a bee, wasp or other biting or stinging animal, move slowly and calmly away.
Medication triggers
- Take plenty of your own medication with you.
- If you need to buy medication at a pharmacy, explain to the staff what your allergy is — you can research the words you need to say in the destination language before you travel.
Live life to the full
There’s no reason why you can’t live life to the full when you have a severe allergy. If you’re used to taking precautions in your day-to-day life, then you can do the same on holiday, with a few extra measures thrown in.
As long as you’re prepared, you should be able to travel confidently.
Start by ordering your medical alert today — you can choose from our extensive collection of IDs and bracelets in our online shop.
Our med alerts are designed to carry vital information that could help in an emergency, giving you the peace of mind to enjoy your trip and make the most of your experience.