Carrying Triple the Prescription Medications When Taking Children on Trips
When embarking on a journey with a child who requires daily medication or the use of medical devices, packing goes beyond just convenience. It's about contingency, ensuring you're prepared for any unforeseen circumstances. Zuzana Paar, a seasoned traveler and co-founder of Food Drink Life, shares her insights to help families navigate the world with ease.
Here are some essential tips for packing medications and medical supplies:
- Carry all medications in your carry-on bag. This ensures that you always have access to them, even in the event of lost luggage.
- Keep medications in their original labeled containers. This helps airport security easily identify them and reduces the risk of mix-ups.
- Bring extra medication to cover possible delays or emergencies. Triple the amount if you're traveling with a child who is diabetic, like Zuzana.
- Pack medications separately from other liquids for easier airport screening.
- Carry prescriptions or doctor’s notes especially for liquid medicines over 100ml. This is crucial for avoiding delays or misunderstandings during security checks or when crossing borders.
- Split supplies between bags to reduce the risk of loss.
- Organize medicines in labeled pouches by category (daily, emergency, device-related) for easy access.
- Keep medications in child-resistant containers if possible, and store them safely out of children’s reach during travel.
- Inform TSA agents upfront if you are carrying liquid medications exceeding the usual size limits and request inspection accordingly.
- Use a clear bag or organized pouches to facilitate security screening and reduce stress.
- Upon arrival, store medications securely in a safe, out-of-sight, elevated location to prevent accidental ingestion by children.
- Consider packing medications and supplies in three categories such as daily use, emergency backup, and device support, for better organization and preparedness.
These strategies will help ensure the child's medical needs are met while minimizing risks related to lost medication, security screening delays, or accidental child exposure.
Remember, this content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare provider regarding medical conditions or dietary changes.
Zuzana also recommends carrying a printed sheet of emergency contacts and a brief care note outlining how to assist the child. In addition, she carries a note explaining the child's condition, medication, and emergency protocol in the local language for emergencies. A printed list of all prescriptions and a signed letter from a doctor outlining each medication and dosage in detail are also essential.
Backups are key when traveling with a child with a chronic medical condition. This includes backup power for critical devices and a spare charger for these devices. A recent study found that a health translation app improved communication between patients and physicians, which could be beneficial in unfamiliar medical systems.
Zuzana has personally experienced the importance of being well-prepared. She has been in a situation where she was stranded with no access to prescriptions, but had enough supplies due to packing extra. A minor delay can quickly escalate into a serious medical situation when essential medication is involved.
Common travel hiccups can quickly become emergencies for children with chronic medical conditions. However, with careful planning and preparation, families can embark on their journeys with peace of mind.
- When traveling with a child who requires medication or medical devices, consider carrying a health translation app to improve communication in unfamiliar medical systems.
- To prepare for unforeseen circumstances, pack backup power for critical devices and a spare charger for these devices when traveling with a child with a chronic medical condition.
- In addition to medications and medical supplies, Zuzana Paar recommends carrying a printed sheet of emergency contacts, a brief care note outlining how to assist the child, and a note explaining the child's condition, medication, and emergency protocol in the local language for emergencies.
- The lifestyle of parenting and travel can be made easier by adopting a strategy of organizing medications and supplies into three categories: daily use, emergency backup, and device support.
