Ice Packs and MK First Aid

[cynzilla]

Just wanted to share my two VASTLY DIFFERENT experiences with First Aid at the MK to attempt to get my ice belt/vest frozen and or kept frozen.

The first day 10/28 everything went smoothly. The woman was kind, took my info and my ice packs. Sadly, it didn't stay frozen in their possession. My packs were cold when I switched them out but certainly not frozen at all.

Halloween night I had several women greet me. When I explained I needed the ice packs kept frozen ( as I had bell services keep them in the freezer at the hotel WHICH WORKED GREAT- BTW) the woman said " I can't do that!!!!" I explained to her I had done it previously, on Sunday night and although they were not frozen, it was better than nothing. THEN, she very rudely stated " Well I guess I just throw the little boy from Make A Wish's medicine away to make room for it, right?" SHOCKED!!!! I stated I didn't know his medicine was in the freezer compartment, how was I to know?!?! I felt like an heartless idiot! I addressed the other, older woman if there was any other room in another fridge or freezer, my assumption they had a normal size one to accommodate medications and such?!? NO- the older woman said they had two small refrigeration units the size of the hotel room ones! I asked if maybe I could put them in a restaurant fridge, (considering they were in a ziplock) she told me no one would accept them due to "food borne illnesses". The older woman said she could make room and could accommodate 2, which in 90 degree heat in a costume was better than nothing. I asked if she would be so kind as to keep the rest of the packs cold in the fridge, and she obliged! I am very grateful for the help I did get and the two packs did make a tiny bit of difference in keeping my core cool!

I am kinda shocked as I would've thought the amount of people traveling through the MK gates they would have more than two hotel fridges to work with for 100,000 guests! Also very dismayed that woman would jump ugly on me like I was trying to be mean to a child with a terminal illness. How was I supposed to know his medical supplies were in the back OR that they only had two small type refrigerators?

I had previously asked on the Board and was told otherwise, and just wanted EVERYONE to know what the accommodations they have at First Aid so no one is caught off guard like I was!

 

[KPeveler]

That is very surprising. Usually the First Aid nurses are some of the nicest people in the parks. I did not even know they would keep ice packs for a vest in their fridges - I thought it was medications only.

And I am sure that the fridge was an afterthought - when MK was built there were not a lot of meds that needed to be kept cold and people who required these meds either did not leave home with them. So I am really not very surprised they put a couple of small fridges in - it is probably all they have room for.

In general, this is good to know, as now you and others know that they do not have a dedicated freezer, but instead hotel fridges, which we all know do not keep things frozen (though I am sure everyone with a dorm fridge tried to keep ice cream in there once ). I am not sure what advice to give if First Aid does not have a freezer, but it is good to know - even if you found out through less than polite means.

I know they are not nearly the same, but would those "instant cold packs" that you crack to make cold help once the cold packs for the vest are no longer cold? I was just trying to think of something for you to bring in the park that was easy to carry.

Also, I wonder if they would allow you to "check" a cooler with nothing but frozen ice packs in it as medical equipment. I leave my powerchair charger (off-board so it is big) in DL First Aid all the time, and a cooler would not be bigger. And even security would not argue if it held no food - just write "medical" on the cooler, and leave a tag with your name and contact info. Especially if fridge space is so limited, I wonder if this would work/help.

The nurses are CMs like everyone else, and I would report that nurse to Disney if you remember her name. There were much nicer ways for her to tell you that their fridge is full, or that at that time due to space problems, they could not accept anything other than medications. I certainly would have been offended or upset by being yelled at when I did nothing wrong! Even after the fact, reporting the incident to Disney with a description of the person, or the time and date will let them know that there was a problem.

So sorry you had a negative experience there. Hope things go better in the future!

 

[JEWLSVERN]

What about using the place nursing moms can go? The name is slipping my mind but I know they have a place in each park for parents to go.
IME, at least at DL, they had a full size refrigerator with plenty of room in the freezer.

 

[SueM in MN]

What about using the place nursing moms can go? The name is slipping my mind but I know they have a place in each park for parents to go.
IME, at least at DL, they had a full size refrigerator with plenty of room in the freezer.

I doubt they would slow that. Food safety rules prevent refrigerators/freezers used for things that are consumed (food, medicatiion) being stored with other types of items.

So, they were correct about that.
I think KPeveler's idea about a cooler is a good one. Even if they had a refrigerator for non-consumable items, ice belts/vests take up a lot of space, so one person's could fill a small refrigerator or freezer.
Even with a dedicated freezer, it could be filled.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

work for a small local park in food and bev, we could not store vest in our walk in freezer, health code. yes it is a walk in. I know not answer that was looked for

 

[ttintagel]

That is good to know. Hopefully with more and more PWD traveling all the time, they'll consider upgrading the first aid fridges to full-size at some point.