Written by: Josh Dye

We’ve all heard horror stories of someone who’s had their travel plans ruined at the airport because they didn’t notice their passport was about to expire.

Ensuring your precious travel document has more than six months’ validity left before you travel is an essential holiday tip.

But what about if your passport is judged to be damaged?

It’s a surprise problem that caught out Gaynor Reid, an Australian based in Singapore. Ms Reid travels a lot for work – up to 30 times each year – as the Asia-Pacific vice president of communications for the Accor hotel group.

So she was shocked when late last year, as she prepared to fly back to Singapore from Perth, Ms Reid was stopped by Border Force officials who spotted a small tear in her passport.

“They said ‘this is not a valid document because it’s been ripped’,” she said.

After the gravity of the situation sunk in, Ms Reid panicked when she realised she would be denied boarding.

“I hadn’t seen my family in days. I was almost getting hysterical at this point,” she said.

“I pleaded with her, I actually cried. She wasn’t having any of it.”

Her ordeal ended when a kind Singapore Airlines representative came to the rescue and waved her through.

It was a generous move: airlines can be fined for carrying passengers with an invalid travel document, which includes passports judged to be damaged.

Not only that, they are required to return the passenger home at the airline’s expense.

“You’d barely even know the rip was there – it’s right up where the page attaches,” Ms Reid said.

“I felt like a criminal standing there going ‘I haven’t done anything wrong here!’ I travel probably 30 times a year – it’s seen a bit of use but certainly not deliberate tampering with the document.”

Data from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) shows the number of Australians applying to the Australian Passport Office to replace damaged passports has been trending down over the past five years.

In 2015, DFAT replaced 6445 damaged passports. In 2018, that figure dropped to 3391 and by late 2019 it was 2582.

Australians aged 18-29 account for more than a third of the damaged passports DFAT replaces. Child passports are the best looked after, making up just 7 per cent of all damaged passports.

The issue of damaged passports rose to prominence in late November after professional soccer player Sam Kerr was denied boarding on a Jetstar flight to Bali.

“What a joke,” she tweeted, along with images of her passport and the damage in question. She later flew to Bali with another airline.

A spokesman for Border Force, which administers Australia’s immigration regime, said airlines predominantly enforce the damaged passport checks, with fewer than five people denied entry into Australia in 2018-19 due to having a damaged passport.

“An airline may refuse to transport a passenger if the passport is damaged and would not meet the destination country’s requirement,” the spokesman said.

The agency encourages people to “check their passports prior to travelling and to contact the Australian Passport Office (APO) if they realise their passport is damaged”.

Ms Reid will be forever grateful to the Singapore Airlines staffer who bent the rules for her, but she’s certainly learnt her lesson for next time.

“I got lucky,” she admits.

While the APO’s website states that “normal wear and tear should not be a problem”, it warns that travellers should check the following:

There are no tears or cuts in the pages, especially the photo page.
Everything on the photo page is legible and clear.
There are no marks across your photo or in the Machine Readable Zone (MRZ) on the photo page.
No pages have been removed.
There is no alteration or tampering.
Top passport care tips include:
Keep your passport away from liquids, including containers in your luggage or handbag that might spill
Don’t use your passport as a coaster
Make sure your passport is not in a pocket when you wash your clothes
Don’t put foreign objects such as sticky tape on your passport pages.

Article Link: https://www.traveller.com.au/travelling-with-a-damaged-passport-how-a-minor-tear-could-ruin-your-holiday-h1l0f2

From a man kicked off a Ryanair flight because his wheelchair wouldn’t fold to a chair being damaged in the hold, wheelchair users often struggle even to board a plane.

A disabled man and his mother were kicked off a Ryanair flight last week after staff “couldn’t fold his wheelchair”. Gary Dunne, who has mobility problems and is deaf, and 81-year-old Kathleen from the Wirral, Merseyside, were then rebooked on a second flight the next day – only to be asked to leave once again. Humiliatingly, the pilot then announced over the tannoy that the delay was due to “the lady with the wheelchair”. The airline say wheelchair services are provided by outside companies. But this sort of treatment is frustratingly common – here are five difficulties of flying when you’re disabled:

1. Being abandoned on the plane

Disabled passengers are expected to plan ahead and book wheelchair assistance but it often doesn’t come. Paralympian Anne Wafula Strike was stranded at Stansted last month after staff failed to meet her flight to take her off the plane, with the same thing happening to the BBC’s security correspondent, Frank Gardner, at Heathrow.

2. Not being able to travel in your wheelchair

Unlike trains or buses, it is still not possible for wheelchair users to stay in their wheelchairs onboard a plane. For those who are not able to sit comfortably in a plane chair, this makes flying impossible.

3. Wheelchairs being damaged

If you trust staff to put your vital wheelchair in the hold while flying, it may come out with pieces missing. In 2016, the disabled actor Athena Stevens launched a legal challenge against British Airways and London City airport over damage to her £25,000 chair. Britain’s equality watchdog says airlines should cover the full cost of damage they cause to mobility devices.

4. Banning wheelchairs

In 2010, easyJet came under fire for preventing thousands of disabled people from flying on its planes by refusing to allow most powered wheelchairs onboard. The budget airline blamed a weight restriction and “health and safety” rules.

5. Being left behind

Still, sometimes we are lucky if we are let on the plane at all. Last year, Niamh Herbert told the Guardian that she was asked by Ryanair staff to walk up the stairs to the plane “for easiness’ sake” (the airline said she changed her flight, and hadn’t informed them of her requirements when she did so). Since she couldn’t, she watched as the plane took off without her.

Source: The Guardian

Air travel is challenging at the best of times and for older passengers it can be even more difficult. At Medical Connect we have have carried out over a thousand repatriation missions including older patients and we have a few tips we want to impart when traveling with older passengers are passengers with health challenges.

Always consult with your doctor before making travel plans. Understand the health risks with the travel conditions and destination. Understand the amount of medication needed and always obtain extra medication in case of the trip being extended or if the medication gets damaged during travel. Obtain a letter of instructions from your doctor on medication administration and instructions for caring for the elderly and the all clear for the person to travel. All medication should have the original labelling in tact.  Note that some medical conditions and medical devices require an advance clearance by our aviation doctor to make sure you are fit to fly and can travel safely.

If you have medication that need to be kept cool ensure that you plan on how it can be done for the duration of travel such an ice packs in an insulated bag.

When booking flights most airlines provides an option to book a wheelchair so that transportation from the check-in to the boarding gate is taken care of. If you’re booking online and the option is not there just call the airline on their customer service number and request a wheelchair.

If your trip includes a connecting flight, allow yourself enough time between the flights, especially if you are transferring in a large international airport. Please note that if the flights have been issued on separate tickets, you may have to claim and re-check your bags.

If you have special dietary requirements (e.g. allergies or diabetic diet) ensure you notify the airline well in advance.

Put a plan in place for regular exercise and movement to prevent DVT.

Sources

• https://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/12/travel/for-older-fliers-plan-ahead.html

There are many factors that can increase your risk of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT). Long haul flights and trips that require you to be seated for long periods of time can increase the risk of (DVT).

A DVT does not always cause symptoms. If symptoms do occur, the first symptom is usually a cramp-like aching pain in the affected muscle. This pain might worsen when exercising but does not subside with rest. Symptoms of a DVT in the calf muscle may include:

• Swelling of the lower leg
• Tenderness of the calf muscle
• Localised redness and warmth
• A mild fever
• Lower leg veins may become more prominent (darker and raised) and sometimes the skin becomes darker.
• A DVT can also occur in the upper leg, arms or neck and cause similar symptoms in those areas of the body.

If a pulmonary embolism occurs as a result of a DVT it may produce barely noticeable symptoms such as chest discomfort and mild breathlessness, or more noticeable symptoms such as sharp chest pain, a rapid heart rate, breathlessness, and coughing-up blood.

Measures that can reduce the risk of DVT associated with long-distance travel include:

• Compression stockings
• Drinking plenty of non-alcoholic fluids to avoid dehydration
• Leg and ankle exercises to encourage blood flow in the legs
• People at high risk of DVT may be prescribed aspirin or anticoagulant tablets or injections whilst travelling.
• Lose weight, if you are overweight
• Stay active
• Exercise regularly; walking is fine
• Avoid long periods of staying still
• Get up and move around at least every hour whenever you travel on a plane, train, or bus, particularly if the trip is longer than 4 hours
• Do heel toe exercises or circle your feet if you cannot move around
• Stop at least every two hours when you drive, and get out and move around
• Drink a lot of water and wear loose fitted clothing when you travel
• Talk to your doctor about your risk of clotting whenever you take hormones, whether for birth control or replacement therapy, or during and right after any pregnancy
• Follow any self-care measures to keep heart failure, diabetes, or any other health issues as stable as possible Anyone at risk of DVT is advised to see their doctor prior to travelling to discuss preventative measures. Measures that can reduce the risk of DVT associated with being bedridden as a result of surgery or illness include:
• Compression stockings
• Anticoagulant medications
• Specific leg and breathing exercises to promote blood flow.

Sources

• https://www.stoptheclot.org/learn_more/prevention_of_thrombosis/
• https://www.southerncross.co.nz/group/medical-library/deep-vein-thrombosis-causes-symptoms-prevention

There is nothing worst than being sick and away from home.

Here are some quick tips to avoid illness before packing your bags and engaging in any sort of travel.

• Drink bottled water
• Avoid raw food
• Get the appropriate vaccinations and stock up on medications that might be needed. Keep all packaging to avoid
• Research the place of travel and understand the health challenges (e.g. zika)
• Drink bottled water
• Get comprehensive travel insurance that covers the desired activities you will be engaging in
• Create a basic first aid kit
• Research health nearest health care centres for the places you will be visiting
• Write all your allergies on a piece of paper and have it translated to the local language
• Keep yourself hydrated
• Eat at crowded venues – the food is more likely to be fresh

Travel is expensive. Things going wrong whilst travel can escalate costs can beyond what most of us can afford. According to Insurance Council of Australia’s market research only 8% of Australians travel without travel insurance. However, most travelling Australians don’t understand what they are covered for and only 42% were properly insured Covered by travel insurance AND didn’t have undeclared medical issues AND didn’t engage in uninsured risky behaviour.

This can be risky for those that become sick or are engaged in an accident whilst travelling. For medical repatriation using private chartered aircrafts can cost up to $450,000 (from Europe to Australia) depending on time of the year, demand and availability. Depending on the severity of the injury or illness the cost increases with the patient’s medical needs.

Patients that are in the medical condition that allows them to be transported using commercial airlines on business class or economy class seats are in comparison more cheaper than stretchers. Stretchers costs depend on airline availabilities, currency exchanges rate and route availability. Many airlines don’t offer stretchers and turn around time for stretchers can vary greatly from 2 to 6 weeks. Business class medical repatriation includes an experienced escort is an option and are usually readily available with approval from the commercial airline. Costs are dependent on flight routes, seat and escort availabilities.

Medical repatriation and escorts are costly so the next time you book your travel make sure you have adequate travel insurance that includes medical repatriation and expenses and covers you for the right adventure activities.

Swinburne’s Centre for Design Innovation has helped design and test a new aircraft seating design that could make transporting patients by air accessible and affordable. This innovation can save lives.

Presently, the only options for patients are air-ambulance, chartering a flight, a commercial stretcher (if available) or wait to get better. All of these options are costly or can have long delays. A luxury most patients don’t have.

As part of a partnership with Medical Connect, an organisation specialising in the transport of patients, Swinburne is exploring how commercial airlines cabins can be reconfigured to accommodate an aviation-approved hybrid stretcher.

Medical Connect co-founders, husband and wife duo Andrew and Linda Heath, believe there is potential to offer low-cost patient repatriation services on domestic and international routes for non-emergency patients within Australia.

“The seating alteration will save patients up to 75 per cent in travel costs for people who need to return to their home country or travel overseas for medical attention,” says Mrs Heath, who completed a double degree in Chemical Engineering and Business at Swinburne in 2004.

Mrs Heath says some of these options may be covered by a person’s private health insurance or a government subsidy, but often the patient is left out of pocket.

“To get somewhere within Australia might cost $20,000 but to get back home from overseas can cost hundreds of thousands. Some people have to mortgage their house just to access treatment away from home or just want to get back to their families.”

The seating alteration is being tested at Tullamarine airport.

“Medical Connect is not about creating a new aeromedical fleet – we’re about the sharing economy by working with commercial airliners we want to replace overly expensive options that are the currently available. We look to revolutionise the way patients travel and eventually be in every airplane in the world.

“Customers with medical or physical needs who are unable to sit up during take-off or landing, have mobility limitations, or need a stretcher should be able to travel comfortably with a more accessible and affordable option,” Mrs Heath says. 

Developing a prototype

Medical Connect was established in 2006 and their project was one of a handful chosen for the 2019 Victorian Medical Device Partnering Program (MDPP). MDPP is a Swinburne-based ideas incubator that supports early-stage innovation and technology development. The MDPP offers expertise and project funding to translate medical or assistive device ideas to tangible products.

Participants have access to extensive consultation, validating the technical and commercial viability of their idea, and participate in workshops with experts in relevant sectors, and may then be eligible for project funding.

The Swinburne and Medical Connect team (L to R): Matthew Blythman, Andrew Heath, Linda Heath, Dr Boris Eisenbart, Matt Richardson, Dr Benedikt Lux 

Mr Heath says the assistance of MDPP, combined with the input of Swinburne’s expert researchers, provided the best chance to develop and commercialise the project.

“What we liked most about the MDPP opportunity was partnering with Swinburne and researchers from its Centre for Design Innovation who have significant industry experience and technical knowledge.

“They could help us to test assumptions and provide technical knowledge to convert our idea into a physical prototype that we can take to industry and the market.”

Course Director of Swinburne’s Product Design Engineering program, Dr Boris Eisenbart, is driving the development process for Medical Connect.

“At Swinburne, we are very good at working practically. We’re strong in research and have exceptional facilities, and Medical Connect will benefit from this – from what I’d like to call the Swinburne advantage,” Dr Eisenbart says.

“The Centre for Design Innovation digitally rendered the Medical Connect device and we build a full-sized mock-up. This will be used in a real-life environment test at Tullamarine on an actual airplane which will allow us to check how it works and where we need to make changes for how it will fit.

“From here we’re going to adjust where necessary, and by the end of 2019 we will build a composite carbon-fibre prototype that Medical Connect can take to industry and the market.”

Swinburne’s Aviation Postgraduate Course Director Dr Matthew Ebbatson also contributed his knowledge and expertise in aviation regulation to finetune aspects of the project. 

About Medical Device Partnering Program

The Victorian MDPP partnership is based at Swinburne and brings together CSIRO, The University of Melbourne, Monash University, RMIT University, Australian National Fabrication Facility (ANFF) and BioMedical Research Victoria.

MDPP Victoria Director and Swinburne Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Sally McArthur, says MDPP is about co-creating solutions for healthcare and need to identify useful and usable ideas early on.

“MDPP is also about bringing together experts and stakeholders in the medical device industry who can help workshop ideas into fully-developed concepts, plan a path towards commercialisation and facilitate ways to achieve medical technology development in Australia,” Professor McArthur says.

https://ranzcog.edu.au/womens-health/patient-information-resources/travelling-during-pregnancy