If you are going on Spring Break injured (or with an injured family member) you probably have some questions about how you’re going to get around. Should you rent a wheelchair when you get to your destination? Or should you rent a wheelchair before the trip? Can you fly commercial with a wheelchair?
Questions like these are questions you need answers too before you leave town. Getting to your destination and not being able to find a wheelchair is bad. Getting to the airport and not being able to board because of a non-compliant wheelchair is worse.
Renting a Wheelchair Before You get to Your Destination
Googling for rental places and the phonebook still work locally. The difference between renting before you leave on a trip and after, however, lies in getting exactly what you need.
Renting a wheelchair at the last minute almost always leaves the customer with few choices on the type of product they rent. By ‘type of product’ I am talking about specifics like weight capacities, height restrictions, special cushioning, accessories, and anything else specific to you.
If you decide to rent a wheelchair before you go on vacation, you also have a bit of home-field advantage. Chances are you or someone you know can point out a local store that rents wheelchairs (or at least medical equipment in general). Knowing where to go or who to talk to right off the bat can save a lot of time.
Unless you live in a very sparsely populated area, finding a wheelchair to rent before you go on vacation will almost always be easier than finding one when you get to your destination.
Renting a Wheelchair After You get to Your Destination
Unfortunately, I can’t give a list of where to rent wheelchairs in every metropolitan area in the world. Luckily, we have Google and a quick search can yield some great results. What should you type into the Google search bar? Start with these:
- Wheelchair rentals near me
- Wheelchair rentals _________ (fill in the blank with the city you are in)
- Wheelchair hire
- Medical rentals near me
- Medical equipment store
- Durable medical equipment store
You want to find wheelchairs near you, so let Google know! Medical rentals, medical equipment, and durable medical equipment are almost synonymous with ‘where to find a wheelchair.’
If you don’t have a smartphone or access to the internet, phone books still exist—and they are still easy to use. Phone book categories to use for wheelchair rentals include:
- Rental
- Medical Rental
- Medical
- Pharmacy
- Hospital
I don’t recommend calling a hospital right off the bat, but they are a great resource if you are having trouble finding help with a specific condition.
If you are vacationing in a place where you don’t know the local language, you should definitely figure things out beforehand.
Flying Commercial with a Wheelchair
Going through airport security and boarding a plane with a wheelchair is less of a hassle than you probably think. If you are boarding a plane with a rental wheelchair, you most likely have nothing to worry about. Rental wheelchairs are usually base models, which means they are easy for TSA (Transportation Security Administration) agents to scan. You do not need to get out of a wheelchair for airport security scans.
From the TSA website: “TSA officers will screen wheelchairs and scooters to include the seat cushions and any non-removable pouches or fanny packs. Items will be tested for traces of explosives, and removable items will undergo X-ray screening.”
Any medical device—wheelchair, scooter, knee scooter—must be scanned (of course). If you have concerns about how an airport security check is different with and without a wheelchair, I encourage you to call the airport you are flying out of before you leave. If there are any special policies or procedures you need to follow (specifically local guidelines), they can point you in the right direction.
Wheelchair Rentals for Chicago Airports
If you are flying out of Midway or O’Hare and need a wheelchair for the flight, Oswald’s can get you set up with the perfect model. We have wheelchairs that will fit anyone up to 425 lbs. and any height. We have accessories that make flying with a wheelchair easy and comfortable.
If you have specific questions about what wheelchairs we rent or sell, don’t hesitate to call a member of our medical equipment team. You can also shoot us an email with any specific questions you have. We’re open 7 days a week, so we are able to accommodate many last minute needs!
