Flying with needles and insulin

[Janet Hill]

Does anyone know what the procedures are. Does everything have to go in checked baggage?

Thanks

 

[DannysMom]

Does anyone know what the procedures are. Does everything have to go in checked baggage?

Thanks

I would advise against putting them in checked luggage. You *need* them. Should you have any flight problems or delays or they lose your luggage, you risk being without needed medication.

Simply declaring them to security & pulling them out for inspection should suffice.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

You might want to look at Post #15 in the disABILITIES FAQs.

I will never put any medication or syringes in my checked luggage when I am traveling. I have thought about it for on the way home, but I have had times with delays when I have to give mysef insulin as I am eating dinner when I expected to be home.

Note that any medicines or medical equipment you carry is allowed in addition to the normal baggage limits.

 

[mechurchlady]

I carry in my onboard bag toothpaste, deodorant, toothbrush, food, medicine and anything else I would need for my daily life. I do not need shoes or pants but if my plane were to be stuck on the ground for a long time I would need those items. I have a philosophy of anything they can loose or break they will loose or break so I do not give the them the chance. This last trip on really was when I need the clean shirt and toothbrush. Sometimes things happen on a trip so I always have everything I need but clothing and shampoo and soap in my carry on.

 

[monkey68]

My grandma is diabetic, with insulin and syringes, and you never check them in. What if they get lost? Always keep all medications with you. She has a letter from her doctor saying she needs to fly with needles, but she was only ever asked for it in Mexico. Just make sure any medicatiosn are in their original containers with your name on it.

 

[Goofyluver]

I carry my son's needles and meds in a cooler right onto the plane. We've never been hassled. I also bring his sharps box right on the plane with me in my carry-on...along with all of his other meds. Just in case, I always bring the script along with me...which was recommended to me by the airline. But, we've never been questioned.

 

[daneenm]

Just returned from a flight where I carried all of DS's Diabetes supplies (syringes, insulin, pump supplies, food, iced gel packs, etc.) in a carry on. They looked at them through the x-ray and never asked me to remove them. His nebulizer, on the other hand, was removed and swabbed. Of course, then I was left with the fun job of repacking, since the nebulizer was on the bottom

Another note is that his pump (an OmniPod) did not cause the metal detector to beep. This was our first time flying with a pump and we wondered what would happen.

--Daneen

 

[Goofyluver]

Yea...after not commenting on our sharps, meds, cold packs or anything...we were swabbed for our nebulizer as well.

 

[Pooh Crew]

We carried on all supplies without incident. No one even looked at our insulin, cold packs, needles, etc. Ds7 even walked through the machine without incident here in Dallas while wearing his pump.

However, on our return trip out of San Diego, after REPEATEDLY telling EVERY SINGLE security person that ds7 was wearing an insulin pump, the pump caused the machine to alarm and we were surrounded (no joking) by security personnel and told that ds would have to be taken to a secure room to be searched! He was terrified. I was terrified. I asked reapeatedly if we could remove the pump and have him walk through the machine again and was told that they could not ask us to remove the pump. My son was terrified and crying, there were five or six guards around him, scaring him half to death, he was crying for me, they were yelling at me to not touch him. My other three kids were scared to death. Finally, I told them that they were not taking him to a room--he could be searched right there in front of everyone in the airport. They gave him a half-a$$ed pat down--never even looked at his pump (which could have easily been a gun for all they knew) and sent us on our way. They scared my child half to death just for show.

Anyway, I know this went waaayyyy off topic, but I try to let people know about how dumb some of these "trained professionals" can act just so others don't have the same thing happen to them.

 

[mechurchlady]

coming out of San Antonio, I was wanded. I told them I could walk through the machine fine. I got wanded then patted on the back which normal would freaky me out but it was so fast. They sometimes will not listen to you even if your are right. I wasted all that time when I could have just walked through with no problems and less standing and turning. ninnies.