Traveling w/epi-pen?

mysweetpeasWil&Wes wrote: We're going on vacation to CA in about three weeks and it just came to me...Are we allowed to travel with Wil's epi-pen?? I imagine not. Its a needle! And it has a drug in it. But gosh, I feel afraid leaving home without it. I can always have our prescription sent to a pharmacist in CA, but I really want one for the plane and airport. Anyone know the rules? Or anyone know where or how I can find out?

TIA

grapfruit replied: Have you called the airline or checked out their website. They DO make exceptions for certain things. And I would imagine that'd be one of them...I mean, how could you hold up an airplane w/an epipen??

PrairieMom replied: They HAVE to let you travel with it. It is life saving medical equipment. I would call your airline for specifics tho.

luvbug00 replied: you can. you need a doctors note check with your airline and dr about it.

moped replied:
Right - yes
Maybe get a note from the docjust incase you get any hassle

Hillbilly Housewife replied: Call the airline and ask what kind of foods they allow on board too. Because if his allergy is very severe... well... no offense, but airports and airlines have peanuts in them....and without an epipen... I was just at one a few days ago... and they served peanut butter in the small shop right next to the boarding lounge.

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied:
I know that they don't serve peanuts on board anymore. We get pretzels or cheese crackers these days and that's about it. But it still scares me.

Thanks you guys! I will see if United has something on their website. And I will call our ped for a note...didn't think of that.

redchief replied: You may travel with the Epi-Pen. It's a sealed prescribed drug. Speak with the airline and ask how they would like it packed. Insist on taking it in the carry-on. Advanced life support can be many, many minutes away at any airport. Make sure you have the packaging with the original prescription on it.

momtoMegan&Alyxandria replied: You can also go to TSA's website. It has all the rules and regulations. Good Luck

http://www.tsa.gov/

DansMom replied: Some friends of mine had problems with Continental and the serving of peanuts. What everyone says about traveling with epi-pen sounds right to me. I'm sure I traveled with it, but it was before all the heavy restrictions were put into place.

Hillbilly Housewife replied: Rae, we used AirCanada.

They served corn chips and oreos.



Sure they try to be careful... but not everything is peanut free. In a flying tin can 35 000 feet above ground, you can't be too careful... 4 minutes to land, unboard and find an epi-pen is a heck of a feat to do. INSIST on having it in your carry on.

Or change airlines.

MyBrownEyedBoy replied: I took one on the plane with Logan and I when we went to Texas in March. I would assume that they would classify it as any other medication. They wouldn't confiscate insulin and syringes from a diabetic. I had along a copy of my prescription from the doctor just in case we had any problems, but I didn't have any issues at all.
ETA, just a year ago, we were on a plane that served granola bars. With huge warning labels on them about possible peanut contamination.

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied: Thanks you guys! This is a huge help. I always trust your knowledge Ed, so thanks! Rocky, you are completely right, you can never be too sure. Its how it is everywhere we go. Luckily Wil doesn't seem to be the type to have a reaction from touching nut products, nor does he seem to have cross-contamination issues since I give him Cheerios and goldfish (obviously made in places with nuts). But again, I can't even imagine what could happen being up in the air without an Epi-pen. Scary.

I just realized this...They do serve iced oatmeal cookies sometimes on United, so I definitely wouldn't trust those. The crackers and pretzels aren't great either. I'll have to remember to bring extra snacks for Wil.

I'll have to talk to my ped about having a prescription with me. I think the doctor just faxed it to the pharmacy what we got the pen, so I never got a copy. I'm going to call United to just double check their policies. They are so strict these days about toiletries, so I wouldn't hold it past them to be strict on this one. But very true Kelly, they wouldn't restrict a diabetic from taking insulin on board. Good point. Thanks for the advice!

MyBrownEyedBoy replied: You're welcome, Rae. Have a good trip!

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied:
Thanks Kelly! I'm going out for my 15 year HS reunion...I'm scared to death.

MyBrownEyedBoy replied:
I don't blame you at all. I missed my 10 because it was 4 weeks after I had Logan and I was not going to fly across the country right at that moment. Although, I'm not sure anyone could have convinced me to go even if I hadn't had that excuse. LOL