good icepack for airline travel (temp sensitive meds)

[jmurphy625]

Hi. I've read the tsa's info on traveling with medication and I'm wondering how to pack up my syringes and keep them cool. The meds need to be refrigerated but I take it at room temp (take it out about 1-2 hours prior) and it can never get over 80 degrees. So leaving for the airport about 4 hours before flight, I'm looking at maybe 10 hours without refrigeration.

I read on tsa site that the ice/packs need to be solid or else they have to follow the 3 1 1 rules. (Not sure what "partially melted" means but I would think in this summer heat it won't be frozen solid)

from tsa site: Frozen items are allowed as long as they are frozen solid when presented for screening. If frozen items are partially melted, slushy, or have any liquid at the bottom of the container, they must meet 3-1-1 requirements.

So does anyone have any ideas? Do you use small 3 oz ice packs and put them in a clear ziplock? Any kinds that stay frozen solid longer? How to easily pack to present it to security? Thanks in advance!

 

[mytripsandraces]

I've used the cold packs for sore muscles and had no trouble getting them on the plane, but I would check with your carrier. I think mine are ACE brand. I get the large one, put it in a Ziploc bag, and pack it in my carry-on.

I was at Newark airport last year and a woman's unfrozen freezer packs were confiscated, because they were liquid, not solid. She said they were for storing her pumped breast milk, but they told her that the freezer pack had to be frozen to get through security.

 

[ancestry]

A lot of people recommend using frozen peas to keep mediation cold as they won't be confiscated since they aren't a liquid/gel frozen or melted.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I would suggest going to www.coolerconcept.com and looking at the Frio Cold Packs. There are several people in this forum, myself included, who use them.

These are gel packs that are water activated. They will keep the internal temperature at insulin-safe levels for over 40 hours. As the water evaporates you can just soak it in water for a few minutes to reactivate it. They come in various sizes.

For example, I have a "double wallet". Depending on what I am doing it will hold my Byetta pen as well as either a syringe with insulin in it or two insulin vials. And I tend to do at least five air round trips a year and have never had any problems with TSA over it.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

I can second getting the Frio packs. We took them through airport security and had no problems with them and they kept DD's insulin cool for the entire trip.

 

[PatsMom]

I've taken a small cooler with regular gel ice packs. I've never had a problem. I've also re-filled with regular ice in a zip-loc bag when I spent the night before travel in a hotel.

But I've read so many good reports of the Frio packs that I have just ordered one for my 3 Day For the Cure breast cancer walk this month! It will save me from having to let medical store my medication and having to go claim it for meals.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

I've taken a small cooler with regular gel ice packs. I've never had a problem. I've also re-filled with regular ice in a zip-loc bag when I spent the night before travel in a hotel.

But I've read so many good reports of the Frio packs that I have just ordered one for my 3 Day For the Cure breast cancer walk this month! It will save me from having to let medical store my medication and having to go claim it for meals.

This sounds like a great idea. FRIO packs work with evaporation, so you need to make sure that you have a breathable pouch to put it in while you walk. I wore a waist pack with a mesh pocket in front when I took my DD's girl scout troop to Sea World last weekend. It worked great!

Oh and thanks for walking! As a breast cancer survivor, I appreciate your support!