Any advice for flying and beach days on the pump?

polly · #1 02-06-2012, 09:16 PM

We are headed to the Dominican Republic next week with my family. This will be our first time flying since Noah's dx. Any suggestions on how to handle the pump (i.e, do you just disconnect during take-off and landing)? Any suggestions for handling extended days at the beach, eating different foods or simply being out of the country? We have triples of all of our supplies, a big bag of snacks that typically work well with his BG and a back-up pump ready to go. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Flutterby · #2 02-06-2012, 09:27 PM

make sure you have the original boxes with the prescriptions written on them for insulin, or any creams. We back extras and had them in each of our carry on, on the way there, incase something happened to someone's luggage. We didn't disconnect the pump for landings or take offs.

If you are pumping, make sure you cap the site at the beach, otherwise sand can get in there and you'll have to change out the site because it won't reconnect.

BeerMargaritaMom · #3 02-06-2012, 09:54 PM

When going through security disconnect the pump - and hand it to the TSA agent and insist they do a manual inspect. We do not allow it to go through the xray machine and it will set off the metal detector. If your child wears it through the metal detector and beeps they will do a pat down and use the wand thingy. It is time consuming

You can take small juice boxes but they will wipe them down with explosive detecting wipes.

set an increased temp basal for long flights due to extended sitting.

be sure to have extra batteries for meter and pump - not easy to purchase at 30,000 feet if your batteries go low.

Safe travels!

Flutterby · #4 02-06-2012, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeerMargaritaMom

When going through security disconnect the pump - and hand it to the TSA agent and insist they do a manual inspect. We do not allow it to go through the xray machine and it will set off the metal detector. If your child wears it through the metal detector and beeps they will do a pat down and use the wand thingy. It is time consuming

You can take small juice boxes but they will wipe them down with explosive detecting wipes.

set an increased temp basal for long flights due to extended sitting.

be sure to have extra batteries for meter and pump - not easy to purchase at 30,000 feet if your batteries go low.

Safe travels!

We never had to take it off, the only pump that sets off the metal detector is the animas.. MM and the Omnipod won't. We told them they could touch it but it was NOT to come off her body.. one airport didn't even care, the other looked at it really quick and sent us on our way.. the one area we did have a problem was with the EMLA cream, but they couldn't do anything about it because it was in its original box with her prescriptions..The TSA agent said she really wanted to throw it out because it was over the 3oz (or whatever their 'rule' is) but couldn't because of the script..

BeerMargaritaMom · #5 02-06-2012, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flutterby

We never had to take it off, the only pump that sets off the metal detector is the animas.. MM and the Omnipod won't. We told them they could touch it but it was NOT to come off her body.. one airport didn't even care, the other looked at it really quick and sent us on our way.. the one area we did have a problem was with the EMLA cream, but they couldn't do anything about it because it was in its original box with her prescriptions..The TSA agent said she really wanted to throw it out because it was over the 3oz (or whatever their 'rule' is) but couldn't because of the script..

You are correct - I have heard the MM and Omni wont set the alarms off. Animas has a metal casing so it does set off the alarm. Good add!

ashtensmom · #6 02-07-2012, 09:35 AM

Write down your ratios, isf, etc. be prepared in procedures to go back to mdi just as a precaution. I can't imagine how lost I would be if we had to go back to mdi while on vacation and not know what to do. When we were on vacation I brought the instructions but luckily didn't need them. But felt more relaxed knowing I was prepared!

Brensdad · #7 02-07-2012, 09:51 PM

My pump alarms in some airports, but not in others. I've never had a problem with the pump itself going through the machine.

I have learned that I can bring a bottle of OJ through as long as you declare it as a "medical liquid" and put in into the tub for screening.

Flutterby · #8 02-07-2012, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brensdad

My pump alarms in some airports, but not in others. I've never had a problem with the pump itself going through the machine.

I have learned that I can bring a bottle of OJ through as long as you declare it as a "medical liquid" and put in into the tub for screening.

YES! This is a big one.. We brought the little juicy juices through, it was medically necessary (and wallet necessary as I wasn't paying $4 for a freakin juice box!).. we were able to bring water, snacks and tabs as well. But they had to be for her.

BeerMargaritaMom · #9 02-07-2012, 10:11 PM

I just remembered that some pump companies will send you a loaner pump to take with on vacation just in case something goes wrong with your regular pump. You might check into that. I havn't tried it yet but plan to next time we travel.

Jake's mom in NC · #10 02-08-2012, 06:54 AM

We recently flew with Animas and it is actually the belt clip that makes the alarm, so we just told the agents. One way he was subjected to a full pat down which was quite invasive and made him nervous

Going home we disconnected and had no problem. Also, just so you are prepared...we had a lot of issues with our beach vacation and our pump site. No matter what I did sand got into his site and had to be removed. We capped it and covered it but still no luck. There must be some ocean goers here that have some tips.