Flying with meds/ice packs

[ratlenhum]

I googled and looked on SW website but things change constantly and I'm not getting a clear answer.

When we fly next month I need to bring probiotics and vitamin injections for my son, as well as one Enbrel injection for myself. All need to be kept cold.

What can be used as an ice pack for these on the plane, and are needles allowed in carryon?

 

[bapawoo]

I'm not sure about the ice pack thing.... but I do know that needles are okay in pockets/carry-ons... my husband is diabetic, and we have traveled several times carry-on only!

 

[minniesfriend]

Yes, you can take ice packs as a carry on if they are keeping medicine cold. We travel with needles, insulin, gel pack, and a doctor's letter stating that my son needs these supplies. We have traveled frequently, including overseas, and never had a problem.

We have used two different items for keeping things cold. First, I have a small cooler for a baby bottle make by The First Years. It's about the size of a jelly jar and fits a small reusable gel pack along with a few needles and insulin. By the way, it doesn't look like a "baby" product - it is a small solid blue soft cooler.

When we traveled to Europe, I needed something that would keep things cool even though I wouldn't have a way to refreeze a gel pack. I came across a product called Frio by Cooler Concept. It has a cold pack activated by water and stays cool as long as needed. There is a website www.coolerconcept.com

You should know that the Frio product doesn't keep things as cold as a fridge or frozen gel pack. It does keep things cool though and worked fine for us as we traveled for about 3 weeks overseas.

Hope this helps!

 

[clanmcculloch]

Yes needles are allowed in carryons. Icepacks are allowed in carryons as well when they are for medicine which yours is. Be aware that the ice packs have to be comletely frozen solid though and can't be mushy. You have to be able to freeze it for your flight home if you have any leftover medicine (I always bring several days of extra meds when I travel in case there's some kind of weather issue that shuts down a portion of the country leaving me stranded; I figure better safe than sorry). Many people find it easier to bring ziploc bags with ice, dump the ice before TSA and refill the ice at any food location on the other side of TSA.

You will need to declare the icepacks and needles but really that's quite simple and can be as easy as just leaving the cooler pack open and telling the TSA agent as you go by. It's very simple.

The reason you're not finding anything on the SWA site is that this has nothing to do with airlines. The regulations are all TSA.
ice pack info

Additionally, we are continuing to permit prescription liquid medications and other liquids needed by persons with disabilities and medical conditions. This includes:
.....
Frozen items are allowed as long as they are frozen solid when presented for screening. If frozen items are partially melted, slushy, or have any liquid at the bottom of the container, they must meet 3-1-1 requirements.

syringe info

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.

 

[aubriee]

Yes needles are allowed in carryons. Icepacks are allowed in carryons as well when they are for medicine which yours is. Be aware that the ice packs have to be comletely frozen solid though and can't be mushy. You have to be able to freeze it for your flight home if you have any leftover medicine (I always bring several days of extra meds when I travel in case there's some kind of weather issue that shuts down a portion of the country leaving me stranded; I figure better safe than sorry). Many people find it easier to bring ziploc bags with ice, dump the ice before TSA and refill the ice at any food location on the other side of TSA.

You are right that frozen ice packs are allowed, but they must be frozen. What we do with my mom's insulin is have the vials in their own quart zip lock and then place a couple of the small solid blue ice packs in their own zip lock, then place her syringes in their own zip lock. Then place the syringes in the top compartment of her little insulated cooler and the insulin and freezer packs in the bottom. The departing flight is never a problem as we just take the frozen ice packs out of the freezer right before we leave the the airport. At the airport we just open the little cooler so they can see the insulin and freezer packs and send it through the scanner. At the resort, we keep the insulin in the fridge and don't worry about the ice packs until the morning we are leaving. Our flight doesn't usually leave until after 5pm, so we just put the insulin and syringes (still in their little zip lock bags in her little insulated cooler, which she takes to the parks with her that day (although she could have bell services store it in their refrigerator). The little blue frozen ice packs we turn over to bell services when we hand them our carryons to store for the day and ask them to put them in their freezer for us. They'll put a sticky claim tag on them and give you the receipt, just like they do for your carry on luggage you are storing. When we get back to the resort that afternoon to catch DME, we just claim our carryons and ask them to get the ice packs out of their freezer. They are always frozen solid for the flight home and we just have to drop them into the insulated cooler with her insulin. We've never had a problem.

 

[ratlenhum]

Thanks everyone. I was worried but feel better now. Luckily our meds just have to make it down and I won't have to worry about them on the way home.