Asthma Inhalers

[erinmommyof2]

Hi all!
I'm not sure which forum this belongs on. My son uses an inhaler for his asthma and we are flying to Disney on Friday. If I have it in its original box with prescription label attached, does it need to be in the 1:1:3 bag for liquids? I'm not taking any other liquids (I'm pretty sure his inhaler is a microfine powder) so I wasn't planning on having a bag. I can't find anything about this on the TSA website. Can anyone advise?
Thank you!
Erin

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I have traveled with a nebulizer and all the meds for it as a carryon with no problems.

 

[EthansMom]

They prefer that you have all necessary meds in a separate plastic ziploc-style bag (any size) and that you pull that bag out and put it in the plastic bucket.

We travelled recently and it wasn't so hard. I had a gallon-sized ziploc bag for all of the kids' prescription meds. As you said, just make sure you have the prescription label on any meds.

ETA: Prescription meds aren't required to be in the same quantities as other liquids, either... they are exempt.

 

[all4fun]

Even things like chapstick have to be put in a 1 Qt bag. It doesn't have to be anything special either, any zip-top type baggie will do as long as it's not bigger than 1QT size. If it were me, I'd just put it in a bag so I know I wouldn't be hassled about it. You probably won't be - but going through security is such a hassle anyway, I wouldn't want to have to worry about one more little annoyance, kwim? Plus having it in a bag is one less person touching your medical supplies. From what I found below (see bold print) it does look like they require medicine to be put in a separate bag.


Medications:
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/specialneeds/editorial_1374.shtm#4

All medications in any form or type (for instance, pills, injectables, or homeopathic) and associated supplies (syringes, Sharps disposal container, pre-loaded syringes, jet injectors, pens, infusers, etc.) are allowed through the security checkpoint once they have been screened. Atropens, an auto-injection system that can help treat many emergency conditions (low heart rate, breathing problems, and excess saliva related to insecticide, nerve gas or mushroom poisoning) are also allowed.

We recommend, but do not require, that your medications be labeled to assist with the screening process.

and

Medication and related supplies are normally X-rayed. However, as a customer service, TSA now allows you the option of requesting a visual inspection of your medication and associated supplies.

* You must request a visual inspection before the screening process begins; otherwise you medications and supplies will undergo X-ray inspection.
* If you would like to take advantage of this option, please have your medication and associated supplies separated from your other property in a separate pouch/bag when you approach the Security Officer at the walk-through metal detector.
* Request the visual inspection and hand your medication pouch/bag to the Security Officer.
* In order to prevent contamination or damage to medication and associated supplies and/or fragile medical materials, you will be asked at the security checkpoint to display, handle, and repack your own medication and associated supplies during the visual inspection process.
* Any medication and/or associated supplies that cannot be cleared visually must be submitted for X-ray screening. If you refuse, you will not be permitted to carry your medications and related supplies into the sterile area.

hth!

 

[Mkrop]

I have to pack two nasal sprays and two inhalers for DS11. One is Advair (powder)and one is Xopenex (compressed air). I put two of these, one inhaler and one spray in each quart bag with the Rx labels. I take them out at security put them into a bin and I have had no issues.

 

[bear_mom]

They do have to be presented to security. I left mine in my backpack, I didn't even think about it being considered a liquid. My backpack had to be hand searched after going through the x-ray machine becuase of this.

Emily

 

[erinmommyof2]

Thank you all so much. We have never flown as a family and I'm trying to do everything right! I'll just make a quart bag with my chapstick, hand sanitzer, tide pen and ds's inhaler and pull that out for security.
Erin

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

Good to know fact - they will also not count over the counter meds such as 4 oz bottles of Triaminic Cough and Cold against the 3 oz rule either. My oldest was sick when we flew on American last month and I had the full component of stuff. I did have it with my meds in a separate ziploc, too. It went through just fine. Her inhalers were also in the bag.

 

[bookworms]

Does anybody know about taking a nebulizer with you? I'm not sure if we should check it or just take it with us carry on. Our son does ok but when he needs it he can't wait.

 

[sacall]

Does anybody know about taking a nebulizer with you? I'm not sure if we should check it or just take it with us carry on. Our son does ok but when he needs it he can't wait.

We flew in August and had to bring all of my daughter's breathing treatment stuff, including our nebulizer. We had no problems, but be sure to put all of the medical equipment in one tub. I put her meds in two quart bags along with her nebulizer in one tub. I believe they hand inspected that tub and then gave it right back to us.

On the way back, we checked in our luggage and still had no problems.

Stacy

 

[all4fun]

Does anybody know about taking a nebulizer with you? I'm not sure if we should check it or just take it with us carry on. Our son does ok but when he needs it he can't wait.

Prescription meds should always be brought on as carry on because you never know if your luggage will be lost or mis-routed. Last April we checked our bags at the resort (used DME) and between that time and the time we checked into Security, American Airlines had canceled literally hundreds of flights (MD-80 repairs) and our connecting flight in Dallas had been canceled. Our luggage went to Dallas w/out us and even though we flew home the next day, we didn't receive our checked luggage until 4 days later. We have experienced mis-routed luggage before too.

 

[bookworms]

Thanks for the tips. We'll probably keep everything with us as we do want to use the DME.

 

[geogirl0626]

Hi all!
I'm not sure which forum this belongs on. My son uses an inhaler for his asthma and we are flying to Disney on Friday. If I have it in its original box with prescription label attached, does it need to be in the 1:1:3 bag for liquids? I'm not taking any other liquids (I'm pretty sure his inhaler is a microfine powder) so I wasn't planning on having a bag. I can't find anything about this on the TSA website. Can anyone advise?
Thank you!
Erin

Mine is always in my purse, without the box, as it goes through the x-ray machine. Never had any issues.

 

[geogirl0626]

Even things like chapstick have to be put in a 1 Qt bag. It doesn't have to be anything special either, any zip-top type baggie will do as long as it's not bigger than 1QT size. If it were me, I'd just put it in a bag so I know I wouldn't be hassled about it. You probably won't be - but going through security is such a hassle anyway, I wouldn't want to have to worry about one more little annoyance, kwim? Plus having it in a bag is one less person touching your medical supplies. From what I found below (see bold print) it does look like they require medicine to be put in a separate bag.

I'm not saying I advocate this, but I've never put my chapstick or lip gloss (or eye drops) into a ziploc type bag. I have it in a little clear plastic make-up bag, along with my inhaler plus some other things like barettes. Actually the last two times I've flown, I've also had a small bottle of hand sanitizer loose in my purse and no one has said anything. Am I just managing to get slacker TSA people or what?

 

[happymommy]

I just bought a travel nebulizer for my son - but I would definitely NOT put it into checked luggage. Too risky if it gets lost, stolen, or broken...

Oh, and I also have lipgloss, an inhaler (for my son), an EpiPen (for my son) and some odds and ends in my purse as well. They've never said anything that I can remember. Love my Burt's Bee's lipbalm, especially this time of the year!

I do put his other meds together in a large ziploc bag (keeps it together). They don't count this as your liquids. I also have over the counter stuff, benedryl and such, that are liquids. Those are fine.

 

[cigarboo]

I didn't know you had to pull all that stuff out We fly about 3 times a year and I've never been asked about all of my son's meds. I bring his xopenex(a whole pack), pulmicort, benadryl, epipen and inhaler and I've never been asked to take it out of my backpack. They are all together in a 1 gallon ziplock with the tubing and mask. They've never asked me to open my bag, except the one time I had a jar of sunflower butter... they took it. I didn't realize that was liquid.

 

[karliebug]

Last trip, My DD had her inhaler in her backpack and she was pulled aside at security and had to have them go thru the whole thing. evidently the little cannister looks ominous as it passes thru the xray. It added a few minutes to our time, but was no big deal.

 

[Carriemel]

Last trip, My DD had her inhaler in her backpack and she was pulled aside at security and had to have them go thru the whole thing. evidently the little cannister looks ominous as it passes thru the xray. It added a few minutes to our time, but was no big deal.

That little cannister can often look suspiciously like pepper spray.