Bournemouth Airport launches health campaign to support diabetic passengers
Bournemouth Airport is working with a diabetes charity to raise awareness of the condition on World Diabetes Day
Bournemouth Airport have launched a health campaign designed to make travelling less daunting for holidaymakers with diabetes.
Diabetes affects 1 in 14 members of the public and an estimated 60,000 passengers travelling through Bournemouth Airport every year.
In partnership with the Diabetes Research & Wellness Foundation, a pre-flight checklist has been created for passengers with diabetes, so they can prepare for every eventuality.
Sarah Tutton, Chief Executive of the Diabetes Research & Wellness Foundation, said: “Travelling can be very challenging for people with diabetes, especially when flying and having to navigate airport security while carrying medicines, wearable devices essential to insulin delivery or blood glucose monitoring and needing to carry foods to eat or drink to maintain stable blood glucose levels.”
The charity has also produced a training video aimed at helping airport staff spot the signs and symptoms of low or high blood glucose levels and what they can do to help.
Tim Etches, Operations Director at Bournemouth Airport, told us why this campaign was so important for the airport.
He said: “With the number of people living with diabetes in the UK doubling in the last 20 years, it’s important we recognise that and as an airport try and help.
“Flying can take a long time, you get to the airport two or three hours prior, you're on an aircraft for a while and you can’t always access the things you need, so you can maintain your blood sugar levels.”
The campaign is being backed by former RAF jet pilot, Douglas Cairns, who had to give up his military flying career aged 25 when he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.
Undeterred, he became the first pilot with type 1 diabetes to complete a round-the-world flight in 2003 and has been a tireless campaigner to enable people with insulin-treated diabetes to fly privately and professionally worldwide.
He said: “I assumed that I’d never fly again, but my passion for flying never left.”
Throughout his campaigning, Douglas broke several endurance-flying records, including the fastest time to land in all 50 states of America which he completed in just five days, 14 days quicker than the previous record.
He told us: “The aim of my endurance flights was to demonstrate what we can do with diabetes when it comes to flying and highlight your diabetes need not limit the scope of your dreams and ambitions.”