Travelling with the Items You Need
Even though you and/or your child have a bleeding disorder, this shouldn’t prevent you from travelling. Clotting Factor concentrates can be included in your carry-on baggage in Canada when travelling by air. Read on to learn helpful tips for travelling, and visit the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority site to review detailed rules and regulations. Click here
Whether you are on vacation or travelling for business, be sure to prepare and travel with the items you need!
Here is a list of tips to keep in mind when preparing to travel:
- Always wear medical identification information. For those who require factor therapy in an emergency situation, consider carrying a
Factor First Card, developed by the Canadian Hemophilia Society (CHS) and the Association of Clinical Hemophilia Directors of Canada (AHCDC) or consider wearing 
MedicAlert® identification. - Always carry your own treatment products, treatment equipment, and pharmaceutical drugs with you, as products will be different and probably very expensive in another country. Most countries also have only limited supplies and cannot be expected to give products reserved for their own people to travellers.
- When travelling by air, always carry your own treatment products, treatment equipment, and pharmaceutical drugs onboard the aircraft as hand baggage. This will allow you to present them quickly to security and customs, if requested. There are risks of loss, breakage, and of temperature variations potentially affecting treatment products if stowed in the aircraft hold.
- Carry a letter from your treating doctor with information about your bleeding condition, any blood-borne viruses you may have, and the usual treatment you receive. This letter should, if possible, be in the language of the country being visited. You may not always be able to treat yourself, so this information is important. See Sample Patient Travel Letter from Doctor.
- In addition to the 'Travel Letter from Doctor' the WFH also suggests preparing sample letters for airport security staff and letters for the customs officers:
- An additional letter for security staff at your port of exit or entry, explaining why you are carrying treatment products, prescribed drugs, needles, syringes etc., and the serious implications of not having them immediately on hand. See Sample Letter for Security.
- An additional letter to present to customs, if requested, to explain why you are carrying treatment products, prescribed drugs, needles, and syringes. Again, this letter should be in the language of the country being visited.Sample Letter for Customs.
- Purchase travel health insurance if you are leaving the province
- If you need treatment while travelling, have the telephone number of the nearest treatment centre with you.
For a comprehensive guide of travelling tips, download the EmbraceLife.ca Travel Tips Guide. But remember to always follow the guidance of your hemophilia treatment team when travelling outside the province or country.
For a list of hemophilia treatment centres in Canada, click here. For a global list of hemophilia treatment centres, visit www.wfh.org
