Traveling with a nebulizer

[sloneta]

I am hoping this board can give some practical traveling advice. DD (2) has allergies and sometimes needs to do breathing treatments. Like me, her allergies appear to be seasonal, so I am assuming that being in FL will trigger some allergies when we go down for Thanksgiving.

My question is, what is the best way to pack the nebulizer? It is a little bit heavy, so I am afraid that in checked baggage we could bump up against weight limits, but it is not compact enough that carrying it on would be easy either.

What do others do?

 

[SueM in MN]

If you carry it on, it will be considered medical equipment and doesn't count against the carry on limits.
You may want to check into getting something smaller and easier to travel with. Other posters have written in the past that they got smaller nebulizers that were made to be portable.
I'm sure that someone with more information will post about other options or you can do a search of this board and find the information.

 

[queenie1]

We travel with my daughter's nebulizer and meds in a carry on bag and have never had a problem. I keep it neat with the meds clearly marked and put only the nebulizer and meds in this bag. They will take the nebulizer apart to inspect the motor. I would never check her nebulizer. Less worry if you know you have it with you.

 

[jlcd]

I pack my daughter's in a carry on. I would never trust it in a checked bag. Declare it before you go through security. They will take it out and inspect it. We have never had an issue.

 

[jennypenny]

Yes, put all of the medical stuff in a carryon bag (we use a small duffle). When you get to security (the actual xray), alert them it is medical equipment and they'll take it and swipe it right away. It will be ready for you when you make it through yourself.

They all seem to know what it is--I guess a lot of kids need nebulizers now, especially when they fly.

 

[karliebug]

you may want to look into a portable one. they are so much easier to carry, about the same size as a camera bag, they can plug in or use a battery or car battery. Our daughter carries her to sports practice, school, and of course on vacations. Check online for a good price. Also, the treatment time seems to be faster,too.

 

[sloneta]

Thanks everyone. Now another question - what is a good portable nebulizer? I was looking online, but am a bit confused. Does it matter which I get? I assume that insurance doesn't cover a portable neb when they have already paid for a regular one, but I will check on that. But, assuming they don't cover a second one, what should I get?

Thanks, again.

 

[queenie1]

I got my daughters at the doctor's office because she hates the taste the inhaler leaves in her mouth and she was not using the inhaler as often as she should because of this. The doctor figured this out at a visit and I left the office that day with the portable nebulizer. They billed my insurance for it even though I knew it wouldn't be covered, but it was noted as part of my expenses and went toward my out of pocket deductable, plus I didn't have to actually pay for it for about 3 months once the paperwork went through and I got the bill. It was $300 for the nebulizer, hose, mask, and a mouthpiece.

Maybe I paid too much. I've never checked into prices on them, but I would start with your doctor. I'm curious what others will post they paid.

 

[SandJ77449]

That is a great question, thanks for asking it!

Where in the parks can we plug in the nebulizer? I am guessing the best place is at the baby stations.

By the way the baby stations are excellent! They are worth finding and using. It's a quiet place to change diapers, feed and relax in front of the t.v. with air conditioning. It's great for little and big kids.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

The best place would be either Baby Care or First Aid. However, if you find an st Cast Member and explain that you need an electrical outlet for the nebulizer and they can show you to one fairly quickly.

 

[SueM in MN]

The best place would be either Baby Care or First Aid. However, if you find an st Cast Member and explain that you need an electrical outlet for the nebulizer and they can show you to one fairly quickly.

There are electrical outlets all over the place where you may not initially see them. CMs who are cleaning up need to plug in things periodically and there are outlets for other reasons in places where you may not expect them.

 

[DISNEYNUTS]

That is a great question, thanks for asking it!

Where in the parks can we plug in the nebulizer? I am guessing the best place is at the baby stations.

By the way the baby stations are excellent! They are worth finding and using. It's a quiet place to change diapers, feed and relax in front of the t.v. with air conditioning. It's great for little and big kids.

this is why we got a new one, it runs on battery, electricty, or car, so where ever we are we are able to use it. but then again when we need it we don't have time to find an outlet, just a thought to consider.

 

[tnmomof4]

I was just getting ready to ask this same question. I need to bring our nebulizer too. I was worried about putting it in checked luggage because I don't want it broken.

So it seems the best thing to do is carry it on, in its own bag.

What about the vials of medicine. My twins take Xopenex. It is okay to take liquid meds on planes??

 

[DISNEYNUTS]

I was just getting ready to ask this same question. I need to bring our nebulizer too. I was worried about putting it in checked luggage because I don't want it broken.

So it seems the best thing to do is carry it on, in its own bag.

What about the vials of medicine. My twins take Xopenex. It is okay to take liquid meds on planes??

I don't know anything for certain yet as I am getting organized for our flight also, but I do know the my daughters neb and all med will go in their own bag and it does not count as our allowed # of bags for our flights, we are traveling with Delta.

 

[tnmomof4]

I called Southwest today to ask this question. She said that Southwest's policy is that it is okay to carry it on, but if you carry it on it counts as one of your two carry on items. I was told you never get to carry on 3 bags even if one has medical equipment in it. On the other hand, She said that if you check it, it doesn't count towards your 2 checked bags because it is considered medical equipment.

 

[DISNEYNUTS]

I called Southwest today to ask this question. She said that Southwest's policy is that it is okay to carry it on, but if you carry it on it counts as one of your two carry on items. I was told you never get to carry on 3 bags even if one has medical equipment in it. On the other hand, She said that if you check it, it doesn't count towards your 2 checked bags because it is considered medical equipment.

Thats to bad, we just confirmed again yesterday with Delta ours doesn't count, Seems kinda of backwards to me to let you check and not count it. If you need mid flight not going to do much good in checked baggage. I hope everything works out!

 

[mechurchlady]

I called Southwest today to ask this question. She said that Southwest's policy is that it is okay to carry it on, but if you carry it on it counts as one of your two carry on items. I was told you never get to carry on 3 bags even if one has medical equipment in it. On the other hand, She said that if you check it, it doesn't count towards your 2 checked bags because it is considered medical equipment.

This does not make sense to me. It is medical so should be exempt but you then have to choose which carry on bag to check in. I think Sue and others can answer this better as far as the laws. I think you need to talk to a supervisor or higher at southwest.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I called Southwest today to ask this question. She said that Southwest's policy is that it is okay to carry it on, but if you carry it on it counts as one of your two carry on items. I was told you never get to carry on 3 bags even if one has medical equipment in it. On the other hand, She said that if you check it, it doesn't count towards your 2 checked bags because it is considered medical equipment.

The following is a cut and paste from Southwest's web site in the "Customers With Disabilities" section under "Policies":

Other Assistive Devices

Other assistive devices, such as walkers, canes, crutches, CPAP machines, etc., that can be stowed in compliance with the FAA safety regulations, will be given priority onboard stowage, and will not be counted toward your one carryon plus one personal item limit. While we recommend that a Customer carry on any assistive devices and/or medications that can be stowed safely in the cabin, these items can be checked if the Customer prefers. During the checkin process, it is important that the Customer inform a Customer Service Agent that an assistive device is being checked, especially if the assistive device is contained within the Customer's luggage.

If an assistive device cannot be stored safely in the cabin, we will transport it in the cargo compartment.

So the person you talked to gave you incorrect information. I would suggest that you print the entire section from their web site and bring it along with you just in case there is a problem.

 

[tnmomof4]

Thanks so much for the info. Thanks for pointing out that the person I spoke with had the wrong info. I never thought to look at their policies on their website. I will print this out just in case I do have a problem.

 

[DjdBrit]

I didn't read every relpy to this thread so forgive if this has already been posted. I would bring back up meds with you just incase something happens to the machine itself. I will tell you why. My son has VERY bad allergies to all sorts of fun stuff especially cats. Last year we had to take an emergency trip to England (my mother died suddenly) I called his pedi and asked about what to do regarding the nebulizer since England works on a different power voltage to us. His doctor gave me inhalers and a spacer as a back up and thank goodness she did and I had the sense to ask. The first day my son can barely breath and struggling like crazy. I plug my nebulizer in with the adapter plug and it makes this "ping" noise which we all know can't be good. It wouldn't work the whole thing was fried. I was lucky to have the inhalers as a back up and my poor son spent 3 weeks on benedryl and was pretty misserable. I even called my old doctor in the Uk and begged them to let me bring him to there office to use a machine which they wouldn't do. I had all the medicine I didn't need a prescription. It was a horrid experience on top of trying to deal with my mothers death.

I know that the power voltage won't be an issue here as you are travelling within the US but its always great to have a back up as you just never know.

I hope you have a wonderful trip and don't have to think about using the nebulizer at all. Say "Hi' to Mickey