Travelling with an Epipen?

[CHEK]

Hi, I'm hoping some of you lovely disser's can help put my mind at rest please!
My eldest DD has a nut allergy and has more recently been prescribed an Epipen after suffering an anaphalytic reaction, which really frightened the living daylights out of us all including my DD. So as you can probably imagine we're all a little worried and apprehensive about our forthcoming trip. We have made out ADR's and spoke to the CM's to inform them of her allergies and the Epipen.
I would love to your experience's

 

[SueM in MN]

there was another thread with this same subject about a month ago.
I'll see if I can find it for you. The general conclusion to the thread was that no one had any problems with bringing it into the parks. Epipens are pretty common, so yours won't be the first that security people have seen.
There is more information about travel with allergies in post #3 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread near the top of the board (or follow the link in my signature).

EDITED TO ADD:
OK, it just seemed like a month ago. This thread started on 1/6/09/

If all your questions/concerns are not addressed by looking at those, just add another question to this thread.

 

[wood145]

We've never had a problem bringing the Epipen onto the plane or into the parks. So sorry to hear of your DD's reaction.

 

[ireland_nicole]

It won't be a problem; just keep it in the same place every day so you don't waste time in an emergency looking for it; not a good time God forbid to have to empty out your backpack trying to find it. Thank God we haven't needed to use it yet, but have had to use other emergency meds, so I speak from experience.

 

[CHEK]

Thanks for all your replies
I think we have it all sorted, we have informed the airline & have a letter from her Paediatrician just in case we should need it.
Thanks for the reminder about packing....so simple, but I'd probably be the one who'd pack it and then throw lot's of other things on top of it

 

[DVCDawn]

Be sure to pack your Epis in your carry-on, not your suitcase. God forbid, you might need it during the flight. Also be sure to have liquid Zyrtec or Benadryl with you in your carry-on. Sometimes my peanut- and nut-allergic DD starts to have a panic attack during a flight because she sees someone eating a Snickers bar and the only thing that will calm her down is a preventative dose of Zyrtec.

DVCDawn

 

[CHEK]

Be sure to pack your Epis in your carry-on, not your suitcase. God forbid, you might need it during the flight. Also be sure to have liquid Zyrtec or Benadryl with you in your carry-on. Sometimes my peanut- and nut-allergic DD starts to have a panic attack during a flight because she sees someone eating a Snickers bar and the only thing that will calm her down is a preventative dose of Zyrtec.

DVCDawn

We'll definately carry all her medication in our hand luggage, and like your DD she's going to be having a dose of her antihistamines before our flight takes off!!, and that's her telling me..... But I agree with her on that one, as we don't know what everyone else will be taking on the plane!

 

[mechurchlady]

When you get to the boarding gate tell the staff that your daughter is nut sensitive. If it is inhalation or touch sensitive then include that information. When you board the plane talk to the steward so that they can put a face to the request. The plane will then make an announcement and declare the flight a no nut plane.

At that point I will leave the plane. No nuts means they do not want this nut, lol. The pilot will probably also make an announcement. Blinders, sleeping mask and window seat are options to keep your kid from seeing people eating a snickers bar but the first two are rather cruel. She will have to learn what her limitations are and not to freak out at the sight of a peanut 20 feet away. It is hard to get over freaking out when you have had any reaction. I speak from experience.

Have a good trip and remember that the pilots are nice dudes and the plane staff are usually really nice people. Any luggage or carry on medical supplies do not count toward luggage or carry on stuff.

 

[Selket]

Reactions on airplanes must be extremely rare. We've been dealing with a contact allergy to peanuts for my younger son for about 5 years now and from all the reading I do about finding safe airlines and peanut allergies and blah blah blah I have found very little about actual reactions on airplanes (sometimes people have felt their throat get scratchy - some minor signs and took benedryl, etc - this is usually an adult reporting). I try to be careful about what airline we fly and I wipe everything down. I also bring a twin sized FITTED bedsheet to put over his seat. It fits fairly well and doesn't bother the person behind us that way. I usually wipe everything down - and this may sound weird - but then I encourage him to touch all the stuff he is going to touch (let's see what this does! - as we pull down the tray table, the window blind, press the buttons on the arm rest, etc). I figure if he is going to react to something there I can't see I want him doing it while we are setting on the tarmac loading the plane.

He is diabetic as well so I am sure to bring enough snacks for him just in case. A two hour flight usually requires not too much eating - we haven't flown on trips longer than that.

I really like Jet Blue. You can read more about airlines and peanut allergies on the Peanut Allergy board - http://www.peanutallergy.com - and look at the top for "online community" - their discussion boards are excellent.

 

[CHEK]

As far as we are aware she is NOT allergic to peanuts, but Cashew and Hazlenut's!!, but we have been told she must avoid all nuts, which is exactly what we've been doing.
We're flying with Virgin from the UK and have informed them, and I have printed the email response to take with us