• The respiratory system
  • How do the lungs work?
  • Main symptoms of respiratory failure
• What is NIV?
• Benefits of NIV therapy
• NIV Equipment
  • The BiPAP machine and tubing
  • Masks
  • Humidifier
  • NIV and oxygen
  • External battery
  • Cleaning
• Getting started with NIV
• Troubleshooting
  • Overview
  • Masks
  • Eye irritation
  • Nose soreness
  • Ventilator alarms
• Our BiPAP service
• Payment options
• FAQs
• Travelling overseas
• Useful links
• 
• Patients & carers
• Homecare home

Advice on travelling overseas with BiPAP therapy

A patient renting a BiPAP device from Air Products should consider the following information before travelling abroad. Patients travelling/holidaying in Ireland are fully supported with our Engineer on Call Service countrywide.

Before planning a trip overseas, you should ensure your prescribing consultant evaluates your clinical status/suitability to travel and establish which of the following support categories you may require if your therapy device malfunctions, is lost or stolen:

1. Non critical support i.e. the patient is able to function without serious consequence for 1, 2 or 3 days/nights without their therapy in the event of device failure.
2. Critical support i.e. the patient will need a substitute therapy device in time for the next rest period.

Standard advice

Bring a current prescription on holiday from your prescriber indicating the reason[s] why you use the therapy and detailing all relevant pressure setting[s].

If you use a humidifier ensure it is completely empty/dry before packing into the carry case, any water in the system will result in instant device failure on restart.

Also bring the following: spare mask and headgear, patient instruction manual, power plug adaptor suitable for power sockets at your destination. All our rental devices are dual voltage and automatically adjust when plugged into power source 110 to 240 volt.

Always bring your therapy device on board aircraft as hand luggage. All our devices can be fully x-rayed for security.

Research beforehand the hospital[s] at your holiday destination and bring this information with you on your trip.

We would advise that you insure your equipment prior to travelling.

In the event of device malfunction

Firstly, carry out basic troubleshooting checks such as, plug into another power socket, ensure power leads are correctly attached, etc [see patient manual for further details]

Following the troubleshooting checks, if the device is still not operating, we suggest the following:

For Non Critical Support patients: contact our customer service team on +353 (0)1 809 1800, LoCall 1850 240202 (ROI only) or Freephone 0800 328 5875 (Northern Ireland only) between 8.00am-5.00pm, Monday to Friday. Please contact as early as possible in the working day.

Outside of normal business hours you may contact our local technician on call service, however, they will not be able to arrange action to replace the device until the next working day. We can then arrange a replacement therapy device.

We will absorb the costs involved where appropriate. However, please note that patients availing of this support are responsible for returning all devices to Air Products Ireland.

For Critical Support patients: to ensure an immediate/same day replacement device we suggest the following: either obtain a replacement device from a local hospital [prior planning /liaison recommended] and/or rent an additional complete spare system from Air Products or by prior arrangement with a local healthcare provider company.