EPIPEN allowed for carry on?

[coach's wife]

Hi All,

DD (15 mo. old) needs to have an EPIPEN around. Just got the stuff today, so it's all new to me. Can I bring this on the plane in my carry on, do I need a Doctor's note or do I have to put it in my luggage to be checked?

With all the new rules for flying I'm not sure.

I'm a little rattled..please forgive the rant.
Thanks!

 

[Donald - my hero]

I am VERY sure that you will most definately be able to bring this since it is a life-threating illness. I just checked the TSA site for you and it mentions that diabetic auto-inject pens are allowable so I assume yours fall under the same class. Just make sure it is labeled as his and the name matches his ticket. Best of luck --- I hope it is NOT a peanut allegry if it let the airline know sometimes they make accomdations for this and only provide pretzel for passengers.

 

[cey]

Yes, you are allowed to carry epipens on to airplanes. I carry 3 in my purse due to a life-threatening allergy and make sure that they are in the original "tube" with the pharmacy label stating my name. The only problem, I have ever had was going through the x-ray screening of my carry on luggage when they pulled me aside and asked what they were for. After a brief explanation and voluntarily showing them my medical alert bracelet, they politely let me continue through. When I fly in March, I think I will place the pens in a clear ziplock bag and take them out of my purse and place them in one of the bins, so the airline employees can visually see what they are. I am also planning on taking a letter from my doctor outlining my medication and having that handy in my purse, just to be on the safe side. It is always good to have your doctor's contact info anyway when you are on holiday, just in case you need it. I have been travelling for years with my allergies, so with a little planning and caution, you and your daughter should have a great trip!

 

[coach's wife]

Thanks so much for the help.

I was is panic mode yesterday knowing she needs to have this around. Thanks so much again for the help. I will ask the Doctor for a letter for our flight just in case. Being that she will be under 2 she does not need a ticket for the flight, hope that doesn't matter.

 

[shelly3girls]

If it is a food allergy definitely let the airline know. We notified SW of a peanut allergy. They not only served only pretzels but they preboarded my nephew and his family with an escort who had the seats of their choice sanitize for extra caution. Their service was top notch.

 

[laughinplace199]

You should not have any problems with carrying Epi Pens on board the plane. We have done this for DD several times. Just make sure you have the original packaging with the pharmacy info sticker on it. You might also ask the pharmacy to print stickers for the individual tubes that the Epi Pens come in.

I just wanted to add that it's probably not a good idea to put an Epi Pen in checked luggage, even if you do not need to have it with you for the flight. Epi Pens need to be kept at certain temps and you don't know how hot or cold it gets in the cargo area of the plane.

 

[minniebeth]

Thanks for the info! This helps me out too...
laughingplace199, thanks for the tip of having the pharmacy print extra labels for ea. indiv. Epipen tube...I was wondering about what to do about that.

Shelly3girls, thanks for the idea to let the airline know about the peanut allergy...when did you notify SW? When you booked the flight, or soon before you flew? In the past, we just didn't accept the snacks for our family, but it always made me so nervous with everyone else around eating peanuts!
Thanks so much!

 

[OKW Lover]

I'm sure you have gotten good answers here, but the most authoritative answers have to come from the TSA themselves. Check them out at:
www.tsa.gov

 

[shelly3girls]

Thanks for the info! This helps me out too...
laughingplace199, thanks for the tip of having the pharmacy print extra labels for ea. indiv. Epipen tube...I was wondering about what to do about that.

Shelly3girls, thanks for the idea to let the airline know about the peanut allergy...when did you notify SW? When you booked the flight, or soon before you flew? In the past, we just didn't accept the snacks for our family, but it always made me so nervous with everyone else around eating peanuts!
Thanks so much!

We called them after booking online then called again about a week before flying just to confirm. They handled the situation very well!

 

[minniebeth]

We called them after booking online then called again about a week before flying just to confirm. They handled the situation very well!

THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!

 

[Donald - my hero]

PHEW I was glad someone else mentioned about forgetting to "plunk" in the info regarding a peanut allergy while booking online. I will need to change it for sure and wasn't positive if they would let me do this.

 

[Mish]

I called the airline last year and they said no problem just make sure a label is on it. I had the pharmacy print on one and stuck it to the epi pen case. Needed it like that for school too. I also took a note from my doctor saying we had to have it due to nut allergies. Just keep track of the experation dates, they are only good for about a year.

 

[HaleyB]

Hi All,

DD (15 mo. old) needs to have an EPIPEN around. Just got the stuff today, so it's all new to me. Can I bring this on the plane in my carry on, do I need a Doctor's note or do I have to put it in my luggage to be checked?

With all the new rules for flying I'm not sure.

I'm a little rattled..please forgive the rant.
Thanks!

Did you just find out your DD needs the EPI? Of course you are rattled, it is pretty scary dealing with life threatening allergies.

If it is a food allergy contact Disney and let them know. They are great about helping you to find safe choices in the parks and you can also arrange special meals at TS places. Even though a child that age might normally be fed of a parents plate, that is not always a choice with allergy babies.

Good luck and there are lots of us here that deal with allergies if you need support or information.

 

[coach's wife]

You should not have any problems with carrying Epi Pens on board the plane. We have done this for DD several times. Just make sure you have the original packaging with the pharmacy info sticker on it. You might also ask the pharmacy to print stickers for the individual tubes that the Epi Pens come in.

I just wanted to add that it's probably not a good idea to put an Epi Pen in checked luggage, even if you do not need to have it with you for the flight. Epi Pens need to be kept at certain temps and you don't know how hot or cold it gets in the cargo area of the plane.

I would have never thought to have it on all the medication. Thanks! From what you all have said between the Dr.s note and the stickers with the pharmacy info we should be good. (I hope? ) She doesn't have a ticket since she''ll only be 18 months but I do have to bring proof of birth so it can't get any better then that. Thanks again ya'll.

 

[coach's wife]

]Did you just find out your DD needs the EPI? Of course you are rattled, it is pretty scary dealing with life threatening allergies.

If it is a food allergy contact Disney and let them know. They are great about helping you to find safe choices in the parks and you can also arrange special meals at TS places. Even though a child that age might normally be fed of a parents plate, that is not always a choice with allergy babies.

Good luck and there are lots of us here that deal with allergies if you need support or information.[/QUOTE]


Sorry for the double post but wanted to respond to you as well.

DD has had food reactions before to some what I thought were normal foods (peas and carrots) vomiting, and hives. Then I gave her eggs...well we swelled up, upset tummy again, hives her face looked like a different person.
We went to get her allergy tested and waiting for results. They gave me the epipen since they said eggs are in a lot of foods. Never realized how many things have eggs in them.
Sorry again for the long info..maybe it's not stress from this...maybe I just talk (type) alot.

If anyone else has experience with this PLEASE let me know and how you cope with this.
Thanks ya'll you all have been very helpful..I can't thank you enough.
Good luck traveling to all of you out there who have little ones who have severe allergies.