Going on a trip soon? Planning on staying overnight (or several nights) in a hotel? If you use a CPAP machine to treat your sleep apnea and are planning on traveling soon, there are a few tips you should know to make your next hotel stay with your CPAP more enjoyable .

Buy the Right CPAP Machine

The best choice you can make is to invest in a travel-size CPAP machine. These small, lightweight machines are easy to pack, carry and bring with you wherever you go. While standard CPAP machines can weigh several pounds and are big and bulky, travel-size CPAP machines are small (will fit in the palm of your hand) and weigh just over a pound.

They can easily be stored in a suitcase or carry-on bag and make the perfect CPAP therapy solution for frequent travel.

Bring Extra Accessories

Because you will be away from home, it’s best to travel with a few CPAP accessories in case you misplace one or they become damaged in transit. It’s good to bring an extra:

• Mask
• Hose
• Battery
• Power Source

Pick Up Distilled Water Beforehand

Not all hotels will have distilled water readily available, and depending on where you are staying, you also may not be able to purchase it in stores. Most CPAP manufacturers recommend heated humidifiers recommend or require you to use distilled water in your CPAP’s heated humidifier. Make sure to pack enough of it, or if you can’t travel with it, search for drugstores at your destination so you can pick up distilled water when you arrive.

Lock it Up When Not In Use

CPAP machines are an investment in your health, and they can be hard to replace if you are on the road. In order to prevent theft of your device, make sure to lock it in the hotel’s safe (if they have one) when not in use. If there is no safe, pack it away in your bag before you leave the room so it is not in plain sight. Avoid leaving it sitting out and do not store it in your car.

Carry a Prescription

Before you go on a trip, ask your doctor to give you a copy of your CPAP prescription. This is a good thing to carry with you in case something happens to your device while on the road. If you have a copy of your prescription, you can use it to get replacements at a local CPAP dealer should you run into any issues with your CPAP equipment during your travels.

Find the right travel-size CPAP machine and accessories for your needs at the MyTranscend store.