I'm going to go to the ocean with my mom and sisters next month and was trying to come up with ideas to keep my diabetes stuff dry while there? I wanna be able to know the stuff is dry and safe while I'm having fun and not worry about it. One of my ideas is maybe a small backpack with the important stuff in a ziploc bag inside so it stays dry? I always use a ziploc bag for going to the pool and the reason I like the backpack idea is cause we will likely be going up a few lighthouses (we're going to outerbanks north carolina :). Any more ideas are welcome!!!
I was lucky enough to be living close to the beach this past summer, so I only brought my meter and some lifesavers along with me, as well as a light snack for before I went swimming in a bag within my beach bag. But then I was never staying on the beach itself for more than a few hours in the morning a day, enough for a swim in wavey waters and maybe a walk. Then I would go home and take my shot before lunch.
Ziplock is a good idea, also of course for holding meds for airport security, if you are traveling far away.
I actually only live like 4-5 hours from outer banks so we’ll be driving I’m on a pump so I’d like to be able to have that as well as snacks,meter and those things with me just so I have them. Thanks for your imput!
Leanna,
Great question!
I’m trying to develop a check list for “at the beach”.
My biggest problem seems to be keeping things cool without being too heavy with blue ices. The meter’s battery will get warm if its environment is warm.
With the pump you’ve got it solved! You don’t need the extras in syringes/needle clipper.
My second biggest problem is getting my fingers free from sand and clean without a solution that adds to the BG when I test.
Backpack is absolutely the best since it’s up and down, not lying sprawled.
Beach towel after being on the beach gets everything inside the backpack full of sand.
Use a ziplock inside a ziplock. and don’t fill so full they open. Use more than one. Have a carefree time! Stay away from the hurricane!
We kept our things in a ziplock in a cooler with snacks and drinks, but that’s not portable for lighthouse exploring. (I envy you.) I think in a ziplock in a backpack sounds fine. I would add an icepack to your supplies.
Ziplock bags are great for a lot of situations, but if you are going to be adventuring out to places that can get your stuff wet or dirty fairly often, you can invest in a couple of waterproof camara bags. Different manufacturers produce them and they come in different sizes and shapes. They are a lot more sturdy than ziplocks, they are absolutely watertight and airtight, and they will usually float if you happen to drop them and your stuff into the water.
They are pricey compared to a pack of regular ziplocks, but you can get a lot of use out of one or two.
If you go the ziploc route, I would like to suggest using freezer bags. They are thicker and a lot sturdier than the standard bags. I use them, exclusively, when on backpacking trips. If you want to go a step further, you could get a dry box. It’s just a small, thick plastic box with an o-ring seal. They can take quite a bit of punishment, and will be waterproof. You can pick them up at Walmart, or anywhere camping/outdoor gear is sold. Pelican boxes are the best (read, expensive), but a $5-10 box will do everything you need it to do.
By the way, have a great time visiting the lighthouses. It has been a few years since I have been to the Outer Banks, but it is a great trip.
Thanks for the answer!! And yeah I think using more then one bag is the best idea Thansk I think I will have fun and thankfully we aren’t planning to leave for evral weeks so we should be fine
We likely won’t have a cooler along as we will have a beach house so we will just take shorter visits to and from the house to the beach. I think I will go with the ziploc idea and your mention of the icepack is a good reminder Thanks!
Thanks for your answer. I have looked at those bags but they are kinda pricey considering that I only want them for a weekend now and then. I’ve heard they work great so thanks for the idea though!!
I was just at the beach last week. I keep my supplies in a pencil bag I got at Wal-Mart. it’s plastic & waterproof. What I did was bring a cooler with me to the beach. Filled it with ice & waters to drink. Than I took a hand towel & wrapped it around my case. It kept the supplies, insulin & testing supplies at a cool enough temp & kept them dry & sand free. I just layed it ontop of the ice once the cooler was full. Left enough room for the case & towel. It really did work out great.Since you will be going to light houses you could do a neoprine cooler bag in the back pack. Something like this with an ice pack in it. http://www.amazon.com/BYO-Rambler-Lunch-Built-Inc/dp/B003YVI75W
Thanks for sharing what you did! I’m still gathering ideas so I’m glad to hear what other people did I’ll let you know what I decide and definatly keep your ideas in mind!
I like them! its funny cause I was just thinking I wonder if containers would work I had been thinking down the line of small storage containers that aren’t for food but getting some that are meant for food would mean that they would be tighter. I like yours and the pictures but might see if I can find sommething kind like then in a store. Thanks!
I usually just throw my stuff in ziplock in a backpack for the beach. However I also have a small dry sack (at outdoors stores, such as REI) to bring along if I’m really worried about my pump getting wet. For example, when canoeing. I’ve figured out that I can wrap the dry sack tightly around pump, but then it makes it difficult to clip on anything, however you can slide it into a thigh thing.
Here is what I use when j’m at the beach or out in the rain. It fits both my Omnipopd PDM or my Dexcom 7+. I just got back from a cruise and put the Dexcom in it in my pocket and was in the pool with no problems.
Thats cool I think I’m still gonna go with that idea so its neat to hear from someone else that does it I’m not gonna be going and thing like canoeing so I think it will be fine. I’ll just have my pump disconnected and reconnect as needed. Have you found ziploc bags to work ok?
I’m on a pump so I’d like to be able to have that as well as snacks,meter and those things with me just so I have them. Thanks for your imput!