14
NEWS
DRWF travelling with diabetes
awareness campaign
DRWF has teamed up with
Bournemouth Airport to
raise awareness of diabetes
for people travelling with
the condition. As part of World
Diabetes Day on 14 November,
Bournemouth Airport is working
with DRWF to raise awareness of the
condition, its symptoms and how
travellers through the airport can
be supported.
The campaign, which also involves
Bournemouth's sister airports in
Exeter and Norwich, includes a pretravel
checklist for passengers with
diabetes which has been produced by
DRWF and is available HERE.
The charity is also producing a
training video aimed at all airport
staff to help them spot the signs
and symptoms of low blood glucose
(hypoglycaemia) or high blood
glucose (hyperglycaemia), and what
they can do to help.
Sarah Tutton, Chief Executive of
DRWF, said: "Diabetes is a complex
condition that can be both life
limiting and life threatening, but all
types of diabetes can be managed
effectively with early diagnosis,
the right treatment, information
and support. We're delighted to be
working with Bournemouth Airport
because 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."
Steve Gill, Managing Director
of Bournemouth Airport, said: "We
pride ourselves on supporting
passengers with hidden disabilities
to make their experience through
the airport as safe and enjoyable
as possible. There are a potential
60,000 people with diabetes using
the airport every year. By working
with Sarah and the team at DRWF
our goal is to raise general awareness
of the condition and ensure that
our staff know how to provide help
and support if required. It is another
example of how regional airports
continually innovate to provide the
highest standards of assistance
and care."
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 insulintreated
diabetes to fly privately
and professionally worldwide,
co-founding the group Pilots
with Diabetes.