camper van

Question

Hello,
we have just bought a camper van and are planning to travel with our two kids, which both have CF disease, during summer holiday.
Are there any concerns/recommendations we should think about ?

Answer

Hello,
One reason that your question was addressed to me, is the fact that I have a camper van myself, which I regularly use to travel with the family during the summer holidays.
Indeed, travelling by camper van seems perfectly suited for CF-Pateints. It allows you to have some privat space close to you, no matter if you are on a beach, in plein nature or site-seeing in a city: That means, you always keep the option to come back to the camper van for a rest or for physio/inhalation therapy. Sterilisation of the nebulizer is also possible.
However, there are two issues to think about:
1. Do you have the right adapter, e.g., for connection of the inhaler in the 12V system of the camper? Usually, the plug that fits for the cigarette-lighter does not fit in the camper. Here you need a so called Euro-Adapter, which is about half the size of the cigarette-lighter plug.
2. The fresh water tank and the water pipes in the camper are made of plastic and are at risk to be contaminated by microorganisms, including P. aeruginosa. Water from the camper tank also tastes somewhat artificial, therefore, we usually use bottled water for preparation of food and drinks, which can be bought in 5l containers on the camp ground. For dishwashing and showering, we usually make use of the facilities on the camp ground. The camper toilette is less problematic, since rinse water and the fecal-tank are supplemented with highly active microbicidal chemicals.

I wish you a very pleasant journey,
TO Hirche

10.11.2008