10 Items to Make Travel Easier for People with Spinal Cord Injuries

It's never easy to leave the comforts of your home when you have a spinal cord injury.

From your perfect bed setup to having all of the supplies you need on-hand and within reach, traveling for many can be overwhelming. But this does not have to be the case.

With the right equipment and proper planning, traveling can be wonderful no matter your level with injury.

Read on to discover the equipment and tools that can make this happen.

10. Variable Pressure Air Mattress

To make sure your skin is protected when you sleep in new beds while traveling, one of your best lines of defense is a variable pressure air mattress.

These help maintain skin integrity by alternating pressure throughout the night, making sure that no area of your body is receiving too much pressure as you sleep. And they are a mattress-overlay.

There are dozens on the market, so make sure you buy one that is a mattress-overlay only and not too heavy.

We recommend this item, which is lightweight and has great reviews: https://www.spinlife.com/Proactive-Medical-Protekt-Aire-1500-Mattress-Overlays/spec.cfm

9. Portable Hoyer Lift

For many people with quadriplegia, a Hoyer lift or a similar lift, is a requirement of their day-to-day life, which means when they travel they'll need to take it along.

In order to make this a reality, a portable/foldable lift is a must and there are several on the market. Most weigh between 80 to 100 pounds.

This lift can be folded and put right into a car trunk or it can be checked as luggage when you fly.

Here is a popular travel lift that many people with spinal cord injuries prefer: https://medmartonline.com/patient-lifts/folding-portable-lifts/proactive-medical-protekt-take-a-long

8. Battery-Operated Fan

One of the most difficult things about having a spinal cord injury is the inability to regulate your body temperature.

When traveling, hotel rooms can run hot and stuffy, which means a battery-operated fan is incredibly helpful when traveling in order to stay comfortable.

This can be set up near your bed or you can get a smaller fan and keep it in bed with you. Either way, don't forget to bring one of these whenever you travel.

They also help you get good sleep. Here is a battery-operated fan that is easy to hold and rotates: https://www.amazon.com/Battery-Operated-Camping-Portable-Rotation/dp/B083SC3XPS/ref=asc_df_B083SC3XPS/

7. Mattress Genie

For those who need an adjustable bed to sleep independently, an amazing item that can turn any bed into an adjustable bed is a Mattress Genie; an inflatable long tube that's slid under a hotel mattress and can inflate and raise up the head area. It inflates within minutes and it comes with a remote control.

This product is available in various bed sizes, and it has its own carrying case to store both the mattress and the motor, which is a critical component of this item.

Learn more about the Mattress Genie here: https://www.vitalitymedical.com/contour-mattress-genie-adjustable-bed-wedge-system-with-remote.html

6. Coleman Air Mattress + Cot

For those that like to go camping, a must have item for people with spinal cord injuries is an inflatable air mattress.

These air mattresses provide people with spinal cord injuries a safe place to sleep when in places where no mattresses are available, such as cabins or camping.

Many people with quadriplegia will bring both an inflatable air mattress and a portable lift to make it as easy on their caregivers as possible to get in bed.

And some will set their air mattress on a cot, which makes transfers easier. Here is a great inflatable mattress + cot combo: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Coleman-Cot-and-Thick-Queen-Air-Mattress-Combo-Side-Tables-Pump-Included/35395662

5. Foldable Battery-Operated Light

Another item that is popular in the camping world that is also helpful in the travel world of people with spinal cord injuries are battery-operated lights that can be folded down and brought wherever you go.

Sometimes these lights are called portable camping lanterns. Whatever you call them, they make turning the light on from bed when traveling a cinch, as this is incredibly important for people with SCI when in bed during the night as they need to see what they're doing, such as bladder care.

Here is a foldable lantern option: https://militarykart.com/products/4-in-1-foldable-touch-rechargeable-led-lantern

4. Neck Pillow

For those going on an airplane, anyone with a spinal cord injury needs to consider getting a neck pillow so that they can stay comfortable during a long flight.

While these may seem innocuous, they are incredibly important and daresay almost necessary for longer flights for people with limited mobility.

And make sure to get one that gives you the most support possible, since many neck pillows can vary in quality and support.

Here is a neck pillow that comes highly recommended: https://trtltravel.com/products/trtl-travel-pillow

3. Wheelchair-Friendly Luggage

If you want to carry your own luggage and use a wheelchair, look no further than Phoenix Instinct.

They are the only manufacturer that makes wheelchair bags that attach to the wheelchair itself, and their luggage is created for both manual and power wheelchair-users.

Made in Scotland, this luggage comes in a variety of sizes and is designed so your wheelchair will not tip backwards if your luggage becomes extra heavy.

Learn more: https://www.phoenixinstinct.com/

2. Travel Shower Chair

An item that many people don't think about but is critical to daily life with a spinal cord injury is the shower chair/commode chair, and bringing it along on vacation can be a big hassle, which is why the portable shower chairs made by Go!

Mobility Solutions have been a lifesaver for so many people with spinal cord injuries.

Not only are they foldable, they have their own travel carrying case so you can hide away your shower chair in its own luggage, which is ideal when flying.

Learn more: https://goesanywhere.com/

1. Power Folding Wheelchair

If you're going on a flight and worried about your wheelchair getting damaged, a great solution is leaving your main wheelchair at home and renting a power folding wheelchair, or buying one, to bring on your trip.

Not only are these lightweight and easier to put into rental vehicles, you don’t have to worry about your main wheelchair being damaged by airplane staff.

If renting a wheelchair for a vacation, we recommend looking into getting some kind of coverage as well so that if the rental is damaged, you do not have to pay the full amount of damages.

Also, to find a lightweight power wheelchair you can rent, inquire at nearby pharmacies as well as companies that sell wheelchairs.