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During my flying days as a flight attendant, I can’t tell you how many medical emergencies fellow flight crews had because passengers checked their medications in their luggage. Here are my tips for traveling with medications and two cardinal rules that should never be broken. Ever.
Tips for Traveling with Medications Internationally
If traveling internationally, do some research on the laws of the country about eight weeks ahead of time. The United Arab Emirates and Japan, for example, are among the most restrictive nations, but many other countries will ban or restrict importing narcotics, sedatives, amphetamines and other common over-the-counter medications.
Get a signed letter of necessity from your doctor for your prescriptive medications. Make sure the letter stays up-to-date so that it is one last thing you must worry about before travel. If you are traveling abroad, get this letter translated to the language of your destination.
Perscriptions
At security, this signed letter and all the prescriptive labels must be intact. Open your medications so that the prescription label is not damaged. Have the medications organized in a separate container and ask security to visually inspect just that container so that your medications don’t have to go through the x-ray machine. This can sometimes take extra time so arrive early. When you leave the security area either have a mental note or an index card to remind you of the items you need to collect.
Make sure the name within the passport matches the name on your prescription bottle or box.
Flying with Medications
Never put medications in checked baggage – always keep medications with you! While this is common sense, I have had a multitude of passenger emergencies because of checked medications so often that it warrants explaining. Bags get lost or left behind. (It has happened to all of us.) Conveyor belts break. (Yup, had that happen too). Bags get stolen or taken by mistake. (a story for a different post) Bags get sent to your hotel room but disappear with the taxi driver. (A London, England experience) Flights get delayed and/or cancelled. (too many experiences to count) Play it safe and keep your medications with you at all times!
Plan carry-on bags wisely. What if the bag(s) must be checked the door of the aircraft for lack of space? Think about what you will need for the flight. Pack those items at the top of your carry-on bag in a bag or smaller pull-out bag so that all you need to do is retrieve it and hand your suitcase over. This container might contain a sweater, lunch, reading material, glasses, medications, electronics, phone and chargers. At least you’ll have a few necessities with you. I can’t tell you how many times my kids have told me that they didn’t have a phone charger at an airport because they volunteered to check their carry-on. Think it through and plan ahead.
Keeping Medications Cold
Carry extra plastic baggies just in case you need to create an emergency ice pack to keep your medications cool. Use one baggy to protect the medication and double two baggies to fill with ice. Extra baggies can also come in handy for soiled clothes, snacks not eaten on the aircraft or to use as an ice pack for injuries.
No baggies? Use the air sickness bag located in the seat pocket in front of you! One of your crew members will be happy to fill it with ice. Grossed out? Don’t be. These bags weren’t originally intended for nauseous passengers but instead were designed to hold food and liquids for a long period of time during the early days of passenger aviation. The bags aren’t zip lock but they are waterproof. Just keep it upright.
FRIO – Keep Medications Cold without Ice
Don’t like the idea of baggies? FRIO keeps medications cool just by soaking the wallet in water. Check out my post on traveling with a FRIO wallet here: https://movingmountainsdaily.com/frio-made-traveling-with-refrigerated-medications-easy/
You can also check out FRIO products at www.FRIOCase.com. Use the code MMD for a special 10% discount!
Tips for Traveling with Medications – do not break these Cardinal Rules!
Cardinal Rule #1: Keep your medications with you at all times! Don’t ask the flight crew to refrigerate your precious cargo, instead, use the baggie and ice method to keep the medications in your possession. Why? First, not all aircraft have refrigerators. Secondly, if there is a refrigerator, it is small. We are talking about a refrigerator with dimensions 12 X 28 inches – barely enough room for catering items. Your crew is busy, and meds get moved, bumped, and shoved. During the deplaning process, while the crew is saying goodbye to passengers, they might not see catering enter the aircraft to remove galley items and restock for the next flight. If your medications are still in the galley, they could be gone by the time you reach that section of the aircraft. The crew has enough to do; don’t make them responsible for your items!
Cardinal Rule #2: Travel with extra medication – more than what is needed for the trip. Most patients are advised to plan out how much medication they will need for their trip and to not take excess. It might save the hassle of flying home and dealing with storage, but extra medications will cover unexpected stay-overs, delays, and cancellations. I was foolish for packing the exact amount of Growth Hormone to Cancun, Mexico, because we travel standby and can be stranded for undetermined lengths of time. Lesson learned. Plan for the unexpected!
A Disposal Plan for Syringes
If you travel with syringes have a disposal plan. You can travel with a Sharps Travel Container or devise another method. I know some fellow travelers who put used syringes in a soda can and tape it closed. My preferred method is to travel with a sharps container and return home to dispose of it. Underdeveloped countries have enough problems with garbage. I prefer to not add my medical supplies to their issues. At home, I can make sure they are disposed of properly.
Traveling introduces a myriad of issues and carrying medications shouldn’t be one of them. Keep them safe and with you at all times. If your medications need to be refrigerated check out my FRIO Travel Cooler review here: https://movingmountainsdaily.com/frio-made-traveling-with-refrigerated-medications-easy/
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