They say travelling with a baby is tough and while I haven’t tried that, I do travel as a wheelchair user and wow! Is it a lot. After all the stress of worrying about whether or not you’ll get your chair back in one piece or if it will even make it to your destination – you don’t want to be stressing about a flat tire or a broken bearing while you’re away. These are some of the essentials I usually pack to cover me for any emergencies.
- Extra seat covers
- Tire pump
- Tool set – Allen keys etc.
- WD40 – This comes in small bottles too!
- Extra tire tubing
- Tire puncture patches
- Wheel bearings
- Air pump
- Waterproof cushioning (I use a range shooting mat which is small and easy to slot into my bag) this is for cushioning in the shower/bathtub.
Another tip I have, while not for packing, is for wheel emergencies. If you cannot fix the problem yourself of if you have forgotten any tools etc. head over to the nearest bicycle shop or car maintenance workshop. These places are very likely to be able to help you fix any trouble you run into.
Now that your wheelchair is in good hands lets talk about you! Travelling involves sitting for extended periods of time which could easily lead to pressure wounds if you’re not careful. With this and the possibility of any small scratches, nicks or cuts you’ll want to pack a medical kit of essentials. This is a list of what I would normally pack! I like to travel with products I know/am used to but if you don’t mind with brands you use you can also order these online to be ready at your destination. For example, my skin is sensitive to certain plasters so I will always pack enough of the brand my skin doesn’t react to whereas saline or gauze are available in 90% of places so I can pack less of that knowing it will be available.
- Plasters/Hyperfix (grab some waterproof ones too)
- Gauze
- Antibacterial cream
- Saline
- Intrasite gel
- Atrauman Ag Silver
- Mecurochrome
- Barrier cream
These items are also what I use but I would recommend speaking to your GP first if any issues arise.
You might not need these items but its better to have them and not need them than not have them at all. Safety first and happy travelling!
