I am a c-pap user for sleep apnea. I usually just get a gallon distilled water jug upon arrival at my resort or cruise..
This time I purchased a case of individual 12 oz bottles of c-pap distilled water for my next trip.
I want to take one (1) bottle in my c-pap machine carry-on case.
I have not looked at TSA medical instructions but will do so today.
Does anyone have any experience with medical use water in carry-on.
I bring distilled water for use with my nebulizer [it is needed for cleaning it], as well as liquid medications. They exceed the 3-1-1 rule.
They are allowed in carry-on, but they are highly likely to get extra scruitiny at airport security screening and can significantly increase your time getting through same. I allow a full extra half hour just for that and am happy if it takes less.
See
https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/items/nebulizers-cpaps-bipaps-and-apaps AND
https://www.tsa.gov/travel/special-procedures AND
https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/all
What I do:
I managed to find distilled water in an original container of the size I needed. This was no small feat and it is expensive, but I wanted an original properly labeled by manufacturer bottle, to reduce issues vs decanting it into my own container [if I had had to do that I would put a label on it clearly stating what it was]. Medical supply stores sell distlled sterile water in 250, 500, and 1000 mL sizes [also smaller and maybe larger]; in some jurisdictions you may need an Rx.
Medical liquids [liquid medications, the distilled water for medical device] are each left in original containers, SEALED/UNOPENED. Each is put into it own Ziploc bag.
All of them together I put into another large Ziploc, and then into another again. A little paranoia, but I don't have leak issues, and if that outer one gets dirty or damaged with handling I can get rid of it with no fears. Putting them together makes it easy to grab at once.
The liquid meds bag goes in my carryon bag in a location where they are easy to grab.
At airport security screening as I approach the screening table, I
advise the screening officer that I have medical liquids that exceed the 3-1-1 rule and I
ask them if I should leave them in my bag or take them out and put them in the tray. I then do what they tell me to do. [My 3-1-1 bag and electronics I follow what the signs say for them]
I have a NEXUS card which gives me TSA PreCheck, so some of the time I am told to put them in the tray, some of the time I am told to keep them in my bag.
Regardless of whether they were in the bag or in the tray, they are ALWAYS chosen for extra screening. So my stuff gets diverted to their extra screening side.
For extra screening they will open the Ziplocs and go to the bottles.
Before they start to open the medical liquids bag I
politely explain that the bag contains medical liquids and I
ask if they could please change their gloves and use a new swab. They ususally quite happily do so.
I have never had them actually open any of my medical liquid bottles. I have had them swab them, and put them in a scanner machine they have for containers of liquids. They have also read the labels.
The main thing is that all of this TAKES TIME. They are used to dealing with medical liquids, that is not the issue. But it takes time to get through that process. So be prepared.
Also, make sure you corrall all your stuff together before they start the process, you don't want someone else to walk off with your other posessions [theft DOES happen]. It can help if you are travelling with someone if your companion can help manage your other carryons that are not being subject to secondary checks.
SW
