ਦੁਨੀਆਂ ਦੀ ਵਧਦੀ ਵਸੋਂ ਦੇ ਚਲਦਿਆਂ ਬਜ਼ੁਰਗਾਂ ਦੀ ਵੀ ਗਿਣਤੀ ਵਧੀ ਹੈ ਜੋ ਹੁਣ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਨਾਲੋਂ ਵਧੇਰੇ ਹਵਾਈ ਸਫ਼ਰ ਕਰ ਰਹੇ ਹਨ।
ਇਸ ਦੇ ਚਲਦਿਆਂ ਹਵਾਈ ਸਫ਼ਰ ਦੌਰਾਨ ਦਰਪੇਸ਼ ਆਉਂਦੀਆਂ ਸਿਹਤ- ਸਮੱਸਿਆਵਾਂ ਵੀ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਨਾਲੋਂ ਜਿਆਦਾ ਰਿਪੋਰਟ ਹੋ ਰਹੀਆਂ ਹਨ।
ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਹੀ ਬਿਮਾਰ ਬਜ਼ੁਰਗ ਹਵਾਈ ਸਫ਼ਰ ਦੌਰਾਨ ਜਾਂ ਉਸ ਤੋਂ ਇੱਕਦਮ ਬਾਅਦ ਮੁਸ਼ਕਿਲ ਸਥਿਤੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਆ ਸਕਦੇ ਹਨ।
ਮੈਲਬੌਰਨ ਦੇ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਭਾਈਚਾਰੇ ਦੇ ਆਗੂ ਫੁਲਵਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਗਰੇਵਾਲ ਪਿਛਲੇ ਦੋ ਸਾਲਾਂ ਦੌਰਾਨ ਘੱਟੋ-ਘੱਟ 10 ਭਾਰਤੀ ਆਸਟ੍ਰੇਲੀਅਨ ਪਰਿਵਾਰਾਂ ਦੀ ਮਦਦ ਕਰ ਚੁੱਕੇ ਹਨ ਜਿੰਨਾ ਨੂੰ ਇਸ ਔਖੀ ਸਥਿਤੀ ਦਾ ਸਾਮਣਾ ਕਰਨਾ ਪਿਆ ਹੈ।
ਫੁਲਵਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਗਰੇਵਾਲ ਨੇ ਦੱਸਿਆ ਕਿ ਇਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਵਿੱਚੋਂ ਜਿਆਦਾਤਰ ਬਜ਼ੁਰਗ ਦਿਲ ਅਤੇ ਸਾਹ ਦੀਆਂ ਬਿਮਾਰੀਆਂ ਤੋਂ ਪੀੜਤ ਸਨ।
ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਹਵਾਈ ਸਫ਼ਰ ਤੋਂ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਬਜ਼ੁਰਗਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਆਪਣਾ ਮੈਡੀਕਲ ਚੈੱਕ-ਅੱਪ ਕਰਵਾਉਣ ਤੋਂ ਇਲਾਵਾ ਸਿਹਤ ਅਤੇ ਟ੍ਰੇਵਲ ਬੀਮੇ ਦੀ ਅਹਿਮੀਅਤ ਨੂੰ ਵੀ ਸਮਝਣਾ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ।
ਫੁਲਵਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਗਰੇਵਾਲ ਨਾਲ ਇਸ ਬਾਰੇ ਪੂਰੀ ਗੱਲਬਾਤ ਸੁਨਣ ਲਈ ਉੱਪਰ ਦਿੱਤੇ ਆਡੀਓ ਲਿੰਕ 'ਤੇ ਕਲਿਕ ਕਰੋ...
ਆਮ ਤੌਰ 'ਤੇ ਘੱਟ ਗੰਭੀਰ ਸਿਹਤ-ਸਮੱਸਿਆਵਾਂ ਦੇ ਚਲਦਿਆਂ ਵੀ ਬਜ਼ੁਰਗ ਹਵਾਈ ਸਫ਼ਰ ਕਰ ਸਕਦੇ ਹਨ।
A file photo of Rajinder Singh Grewal (L) and Balbir Singh (R) who died after their respective air travels from New Delhi to Melbourne. Source: Supplied
ਡਾਕਟਰ ਸੰਤੋਖ ਸਿੰਘ ਔਜਲਾ ਪਿਛਲੇ ਕੁਝ ਸਾਲਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਮੈਲਬੌਰਨ ਵਿੱਚ ਸਿਹਤ-ਸੁਵਿਧਾਵਾਂ ਪ੍ਰਦਾਨ ਕਰ ਰਹੇ ਹਨ।
ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਸੁਝਾਅ ਦਿੰਦਿਆਂ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਬਜ਼ੁਰਗਾਂ ਨੂੰ ‘ਲਾਪਰਵਾਹੀ’ ਛੱਡਕੇ ਸਫ਼ਰ ਤੋਂ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਬਾਅਦ ਵਿੱਚ ਆਪਣੀ ਸਿਹਤ ਦਾ ਨਿਰੀਖਣ ਜ਼ਰੂਰ ਕਰਵਾਉਣਾ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ।
ਡਾਕਟਰ ਔਜਲਾ ਨਾਲ਼ ਇਸ ਬਾਰੇ ਪੂਰੀ ਗੱਲਬਾਤ ਸੁਣਨ ਲਈ ਇਸ ਲਿੰਕ ਉੱਤੇ ਕਲਿਕ ਕਰੋ....
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Tips for safe and comfortable airplane travel for seniors
SBS Punjabi
25/10/201812:30
Dr Santokh Singh Aujla honoured by Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews for his community and social welfare work. Source: Supplied
Read this story in English:
A global increase in travel and an increase in the aged population in many countries has resulted in a significant increase in older passengers with a concomitant rise in the number of medical illnesses in the air.
Although air travel is considered the safest modes of transport, the environment within the cabin may have adverse effects on elderly passengers with medical complications.
Melbourne-based Indian community representative, Phulvinderjit Singh Grewal,* has helped at least ten families who have had to deal with the deaths of their elderly relatives over the two years.
“It’s quite frequent now. More and more families have to deal with the unfortunate deaths of the seniors which have been happening during or immediately after air travel,” he said.
“Although this could be attributed to the growing number of elderly passengers, we can’t ignore the fact that some of the less-frequent elderly passengers are ignoring their health check-ups resulting in these disasters."
The importance of health and travel insurance
Mr Singh said the ‘frequent’ deaths are not only ‘concerning’ for the community but it also results in financial implications on the affected families.
“We’ve been seeing many fundraisers in the community. It is good to see so many generous hearts coming forward for the noble cause,” he says.
“I feel the money raised through fundraisers could be used for other reasons provided we know the importance of insurance cover."
Mr Singh said the cost for the funerals or to repatriate bodies to India may vary between $5,000 to $10,000.
“You never know when a medical emergency could occur. So it is important that you have medical and travel insurance,” he says.
He also suggested that while choosing insurance it is essential to get the right cover especially for elderly travellers who may have some pre-existing conditions.
“The Indian High Commission doesn’t commit to any of these costs," says Mr Singh.
"I’ve heard that they may cover it in the case where the deceased is an international student but that doesn’t happen for seniors."
Coping with the loss of their elderly family members
Melbourne-based Mandeep Singh Brar still remembers the day when his 87-year-old grandfather died at Melbourne airport.
“He died at the airport soon after we landed from a flight from India to Australia," said Mr Brar.
"There were no prior signs as he simply sat to take some rest soon after becoming unconscious.
“The ambulance was called but paramedics couldn’t save him. It seemed he died of natural causes with his heart first stopping followed by the other organs."
Mr Brar suggested that senior citizens travelling to Australia must take out travel and/or health insurance to avoid financial losses.
“We were financially stable to bear the funeral costs. But I am concerned about many young migrant families who are struggling to make their lives here in Australia,” he says.
“It can happen to anyone. Our grandfather was a healthy person. He had no prior health-related complications, and yet we’d to face the circumstances leading to his death."
Kamaljit Singh lives in the country town of Shepparton which is located 180 km north of Melbourne.
Image used for representational purposes only Source: Supplied
He told SBS Punjabi his father Balbir Singh died within 48 hrs after he landed in Melbourne from India.
“My father started to have breathing problems mid-air. The crew helped him to stabilize using an oxygen mask which was an on-and-off kind of arrangement that took him safely to Melbourne," he said.
“He started to have the same breathing issue after he went to bed on the first night.
Mr Singh said they called the paramedics who took him to emergency and then, later on, he was shifted to ICU where he took his last breath.
“He was healthy and fit to travel. There was nothing serious except the fact that he had recently recovered from jaundice."
Mr Singh had health insurance from an Australian company and the family is still waiting for an approval for the treatment costs.
Insurance claim can be a tedious work. Source: Supplied
Health and safety tips for senior citizens
Dr Santokh Singh Aujla is a GP practising in Melbourne for the last 15 years. He has a keen interest in health care matters that affect senior citizens.
He told SBS Punjabi that a routine medical check-up before an air-travel is always recommended for senior citizens.
“They shouldn’t take it in the lighter vein. Consult your doctor before flying as we’re talking about complex medical situations that could prove fatal,” he says.
Dr Singh recommends that senior citizens should always carry a medical certificate during any form of travel.
"The certificate should ideally have the brief medical history, any serious health condition and a list of all the current medications, their generic names, dosages and the frequency to be taken," he adds.
“They should also print a spare copy to keep it in the carry-on luggage along with their medication."
Traveling senior citizens are advised to carry medical certificate mentioning a brief medical history, any serious health condition and a list of prescriptions. Source: Pexels
Travel advice for senior citizens
Dr Singh also provided some travel tips to elderly passengers travelling to and from Indian-subcontinent.
“Elderly people sometimes need a bit of awareness and support while using air travel. The less-frequent passengers often deal with a fear of flying, hyperventilation and anxiety issues” he says.
Dr Singh said that he often examines elderly patients from the sub-continent who tend to have a high risk of heart-related complications.
“Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) commonly affects the seniors and those with heart disease or circulatory problems. This can easily be avoided by doing frequent easy-to-do exercises and also a walk down the aisle.
“If you have any mobility issues ask for an aisle seat that will make it easier for you to move around the aircraft and you’d use toilets more frequently."
Dr Singh said that keeping hydrated is essential to compensate for the low humidity on planes.
“Drink plenty of water and if possible, avoid alcohol and caffeine. Breathe easy and tell the flight attendants in case you require an oxygen mask," he suggests.
Elderly passengers ‘must’ take travel and/or health insurance
Parminder Singh Mann who is mourning the loss of his father-in-law Rajinder Singh wants to raise awareness about the importance of health and travel insurance.
“You must take an appropriate cover if your parents are travelling to Australia," says Mr Mann.
"It is quite a serious thing that needs our attention. Our parents don’t know how the system works here so it is our job to get it done.
“There’re many migrant families who have not only lost their loved ones but had also to cope up with the financial losses either through the medical costs or due to the funeral arrangements."
Each year more than 1 billion people travel by air globally n domestic and international airlines.
* Phulvinderjit Singh Grewal was awarded at the Multicultural Awards for Excellence ceremony at Government House, Melbourne on 13 September 2018 for his selfless services to the Indian-Australian community.
