Guidance for Travelling

as lockdown eases. This guide has been developed for people with hearing loss with some tips to help with the added barrier of face masks.

As the summer approaches, lockdown begins to ease and we are all looking to travel again, please be careful and check the relevant guidance from scot.gov here: https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-travel-and-transport/ on what you can do in each level. You are not currently required to prove that you have had the Covid-19 vaccine.

With the help of lip-reading tutor Jill Bradshaw, we have put together a list of helpful tips for you to consider if you are thinking of travelling:

• Remember to take spare hearing aid batteries with you if you wear hearing aids.

• Take a note pad and pen, or alternatively use your phone to write things down.

• You can wear a sunflower lanyard anywhere in the UK and they will understand that this means you require assistance if visiting shops. These can be picked up at your local Tesco or Sainsbury’s or purchased online.

• You can get cards, badges, and wristbands from https://www.hearinglink.org/ that let people know that you are Deaf, lip-read, or have a hearing loss.

• If you have a personal listening device or other aids to help with hearing doorbells etc, take these with you if they are portable. You can also check with hotels or holiday homes if they have any assistive equipment.

• Carry face masks, wipes and hand sanitiser with you. It is beneficial to have a supply of masks, the guidance is that one mask should last you four hours.

• Pay by contactless/card where possible.

• Check local guidelines and restrictions before you go. You may be asked to quarantine after travelling abroad, check gov.uk to see which countries you must quarantine after visiting.

• If flying, let the airline know that you have a hearing loss or lip-read, they can offer assistance where required.

• If you are flying you may also have to take a Covid-19 test before travelling. You can order home testing kits from Gov.uk here: https://www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests.
• If you feel unwell at all, have any of the coronavirus symptoms which include a fever, a new and continuous cough, or a change in or loss of taste or smell, stay at home and book a test. You may need to self-isolate.