So I am off to Ireland next week to visit my family and I am so excited! I am always freaked about TSA but my pump rep assured me that if I just tell TSA that I have a pump and want a pat down as opposed to going in the "Naked Machine" (yes, that's what I call it) as well as having my prescriptions I should be fine. The thing she couldn't tell me about was if my frio pack would be a problem.
I love my frio pack and that it keeps my insulin cold and safe. How else am I supposed to keep it cold for an entire 36 hours of travel? I heard about a pregnant woman having her ice packs for her insulin taken away because of the whole "liquid/gel" thing so now I'm worried.
Has anyone flown with a frio pack before? What should I do!?!?
And if you have any travel tips I am always listening. I haven't traveled much with the big D yet.
I went on a cruise this fall, but we took the train to NYC, didn't fly, I had my frio pack to transport the insulin. When it was time to return home after the cruise, Hurricane Irene hit, and we had to fly home because Amtrak was out of service. At LaGuardia airport I put the frio pack in my suitcase and checked it, so that wasn't an issue. However I forgot to put my toiletry case in the suitcase and had it in my carry on bag, and several items, including face moisturizer, hair conditioner, and shampoo, were confiscated. I was told I could go back and put them in my checked luggage, and come through the scanner again, but I declined.
I travel a lot. I've been using the frio pack for about 3 years. I keep it in my backpack and do not take it out. I just send it thru the scanner along with my wallet and things. I also keep all of my insulin and cgm supplies in there. It has never been searched. I suggest you get a note from your endo stating that you require certain item to be with you at all times. I have one but have yet needed to show it to tsa.
I have travelled in the US and internationally with a frio, not a problem. Always carry your insulin as carry-on. Be careful about putting it in checked baggage. Checked baggage can be exposed to extreme temperatures. You will be subject to TSA rules, and you will see similar rules in Ireland. And the TSA rules say that you are allowed cooling, liquids and other things for your diabetes. I just leave all my stuff in the backpack and pass it through X-ray. When I travelled internationally, I carried a copy of my prescriptions.
ps. And just so you know, large, partly frozen blue cooler packs is probably sketchy, but a frio is fine.
We just got back from a birding trip to Europe. I used the Frio pack and slipped it inside of a zip top bag. I never found a fridge that I trusted. I actually took too much insulin, because none of it ever went bad.
I don’t know if you meant a ziplock (airtight plastic bag) when you mentioned using a “zip top” bag (honestly not trying to be critical about your choice of non-brand-name words) but the ability of the Frio “system” to maintain insulin at a cold temperature is dependent on the physical process of evaporation. This cannot occur if the Frio pouch is kept in an airtight environment.
There is no such thing as “taking (packing) too much insulin” when one is traveling to unfamiliar destinations where obtaining insulin may not be possible. IMO, you took what I would consider to be “just the right amount”.
I’d also add that it depends on the relative humidity of the environment it’s in. If you think it’s going to keep your insulin below 70 degrees (or whatever they advertise) when you’re in a 100 degree humid jungle, you will be sorely disappointed.
They are a good product and I use them extensively, but they are certainly not magic. The same thing can be accomplished likely even slightly more effectively by wrapping a wet washcloth around your insulin (and not putting it in a ziplock bag)
But Sam, I’d much rather spend money needlessly on fancy contraptions than save money by utilizing normal everyday household items (says she who has more “As Seen on TV” items than she will ever admit out loud). BTW, those “TV knives” really can cut through anything, including but not limited to, human thumbs…
I have travelled all over with a Frio pack. Since it contains a gel that you have to soak in water, I have always assumed it counts as a “liquid” for the purposes of security. In any event it will contain insulin, which is definitely a liquid.
I usually put the Frio pack (with the insulin vials) into the ziplock plastic bag with other liquids and gels and send it through the scanner. I have never had a problem.
I have been flying regularly with a pump for several years and it ALWAYS sets off the alarm. I have even tried removing the metal belt clip but to no avail. I don’t see the point in telling anyone in advance. The security staff are now pretty well accustomed to pumps. I recently flew to the US via Dublin. Travelling to and from Ireland you WILL have to go through the “naked scanner” thing and they will want to swab your hand. It’s no big deal.
@rgcainmd I usually also put it in the allowed 1litre ziplock, but only for security screening which lasts less than 10 minutes usually so i guess my insulin will be fine for that short amount of time.
I suspect I have gone through tsa stations with D gear well over 100 times at this point. I have always had both a frio with my insulin pens currently in use and a small soft sided cooler with a single blue gel ice pack in it with my unopened insulin pens-- neither in ziplocks.
Tsa has never even mentioned either. I don’t mention any of it to them. Several times because of the shear level of junk in my backpack they select it for additional screening and rifle through it and look right at both, and even open the cooler and see the ice pack with their own eyes. They’ve still never said a word.
As long as you declare your diabetes supplies when you’re going through, I don’t think they are subject to the ziplock bag rule. From the TSA website:
Please notify the Transportation Security Officer that you have diabetes and are carrying your supplies with you. Insulin pumps and supplies must be accompanied by insulin, and insulin in any form or dispenser must be clearly identified. TSA allows larger amounts of medically necessary liquids, gels, and aerosols in reasonable quantities for your trip, but you must declare them to security officers at the checkpoint for inspection.
The following diabetes-related supplies and equipment are allowed through the checkpoint once they have been screened:
Insulin and insulin loaded dispensing products: vials or box of individual vials, jet injectors, biojectors, epipens, infusers, and preloaded syringes.
Ice or ice packs to keep insulin cool.
Unlimited number of unused syringes when accompanied by insulin or other injectable medication.
Lancets, blood glucose meters, blood glucose meter test strips, alcohol swabs, and meter-testing solutions.
Insulin pump and insulin pump supplies: cleaning agents, batteries, plastic tubing, infusion kit, catheter, and needle.
Glucagon emergency kit.
Urine ketone test strips.
Unlimited number of used syringes when transported in Sharps disposal container or other similar hard-surface container.
Sharps disposal containers or similar hard-surface disposal container for storing used syringes and test strips.
Even if an item is generally permitted, it may be subject to additional screening or not allowed through the checkpoint if it triggers an alarm during the screening process, appears to have been tampered with, or poses other security concerns. The final decision rests with TSA on whether to allow any items on the plane.
Gang - I kept the Frio wet with tap water. It kept my Insuline cool, not cold. We circled the country of France, birdiing. It was cool up north, moderate down south. The Frio DID evaporate. That is why I put it in a ziplock bag. The bag got wet, not my kit. That was the point of the plastic bag.
The bag seemed to puff up one time, as if full of air. I bit carefully thru the plastic with one of my teeth. No more puffy bag. Evaporation happened. Crepes were consumed. Insuline did its job.
It is generally security at UK airports that I go through (and TSA rules do not apply over here) . I have never seen any of the UK rules regarding insulin or any other supplies. I just assumed that the Frio and the insulin inside would be classed as liquids or gels. The only time I have ever had any sort of problem at airport security was flying back to the UK from Barbados with a backup Animas pump. Animas will provide these - they come in a sealed clear pack with instructions not to put it through the X-ray scanner and not to open the sealed pack unless you need to use it. Since it wasn’t to go through the scanner, security wanted to open the pack to swab it. A supervisor quickly resolved the issue.
@Rober17. The Frio relies on evaporation for cooling. If you put your Frio in a plastic bag that will great reduce evaporation and it will not cool so efficiently.
traveling through european airports my insulin has never been classified as liquids in the sense that they would count in to the maximal 1l amount.
i always declare my insulin and frio separately from the other liquids and have never had a problem (neither on UK airports, heathrow specifically when i went through there)
