Respironics Donates POCs to ARA Cruise Participants

OCTOBER 2008 | HME Business
Oxygen equipment maker Respironics donated EverGo portable oxygen concentrators to the American Respiratory Alliance (ARA) of Western Pennsylvania in support [sic] the Alliance's 14th Annual Cruise for Respiratory Patients.

The Alaskan cruise, called Smooth Sailing, was held Sept. 13 through Sept. 22 [sic] required that participants fly across the country, which would have been difficult without the POCs. Previous trips had to be arranged using nearer cruise launch points, so that they could use ground transportation. However, with the POCs, the association could loan them out to members who wanted to participate in the cruise.

"Being able to lend the EverGo portable concentrator to patients for use on the plane and the cruise ship is exciting for us because it provides many of the oxygen patients with the opportunity to visit a place that might only have been a dream - Alaska," said Carol Ann Kuczma, Director, ARA Programs and Services.

The participants flew from New Jersey and Pennsylvania to Seattle, Washington using the POCs on battery power. From there, they enjoyed a nine-day Alaskan cruise to Glacier Bay National Park, Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan and Victoria, British Columbia.

The Smooth Sailing trip also included activities and services tailored specifically to the oxygen users group. Members could attend classes on COPDs [sic] and an experience staff of medical professionals - including a physician, respiratory therapists, registered nurses and volunteers - were on-hand to help patients.

ARA loaned the oxygen users all of the necessary portable oxygen equipment for use during the cruise, including stationary units, traditional tanks and the POCs. "Respironics has been the key partner in this year's event and quite frankly, without the portable technology, this trip would not have been possible," Kuczma said.

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Respironics Donates POCs to ARA Cruise Participants