Taking drinks through airport security.

[youarenotkiddingme]

I know it's liquids below 100ml in clear bottles.

However what about for medical need?

Ds (14) has been getting sudden acute and severe migraines for a few years. We now think it's due to Hypoglycemia as his temp drops to 33-35° and he's pale/grey and confused.

He's seeing nurse tomorrow to get a blood sugar tester so we can test it when this happens.

But we need to carry paracetamol (liquid) as well as his sumatriptan spray with us and also jelly babies and lucosade.

Anyone know the rules (without me trying to navigate and airport switchboard)
about if I can carry the paracetamol in a unopened bottle (150ml) and I was thinking a can of mini cola (100ml).

Afaik there is no restrictions on food? So I can take jelly babies and bread roll?

I'm also assuming I'll need some kind of dr note to carry the glucose monitor on board as it's needles?

I have all his neuro letters re his odd episodes etc and that they suspect migraine and the fact he's also on another medication (tablets we crush) but it doesn't specifically say to take paracetamol and the sumatriptan isn't a large liquid as it's a nasal spray.

Anyone shed any light on this? (I will pay for private letter from gp if needs be and they can do this before next week!)

The cola you could buy airside, once you are through security. Presumably the paracetamol as well (unless it's not standard Calpol). The sumitriptan should be fine as it's a small bottle, and you can take the food through with no problems

You may need to decant the liquid paracetamol into a smaller bottle - easily available in Boots.

You can’t take a 150ml bottle, no, even if it only has 100 ml in it.

You can decant 100ml into a small 100ml bottle.

Put the rest in your checked bag.

You can buy as much lucozade as you like as soon as you get through security and take it in the plane.

For needles: the airline website should tell you what to do.

Do you need the glucose monitor in your hand / cabin bags?

If not it will be fine in your checked bag.

I would just buy it all airside. They won't even care about the glucose monitor. I've been diabetic for 20 years and never been stopped with needles etc. The spray, again, they won't care. I would put it in one of the clear bags they provide and ensure it has the dispensary label on it.

Reasoned it'll definitely have to go into the hand luggage op won't know when she will need it, what if the cabin baggage goes missing? The temperature could also effect how it works. Medication and medical equipment should always go in hand luggage.

Could he take a prophylactic paracetamol dose before going to the airport? Buy the drink and Calpol beyond security.

I need it on me. These have been getting more severe over the years and since Friday (last episode he had) we may not have time and there's no way I can get him from departures to airside to buy a drink.

He goes from well to barely conscious in about 3 minutes unless we get his sugar levels up. Previously - before we'd considered BM he would end up on the floor where ever he was and couldn't move for 15 minutes to 5 hours.

So I can put cola/ lucosade and paracetamol in the clear bottles? Don't know why but I thought they'd prefer them to be in originals but I can do that and label them!

And yes we'd need the blood glucose monitor and all his medication with us. He needs to crush his tablets and so we have the cutter and crusher too and so the box of meds is nothing compared to this.

Esk the paracetamol doesn't really do anything. It's never worked before and that's why he has sumatriptan. However he's never had that either because he's always in a deep sleep before we get that far! We think raising his blood sugar is what's helping headache. However we have always given it anyway - because that's what you do with headache.

I don't think you'll be allowed to take drinks through regardless of bottle size.

You'll have to get someone through first to go and get a drink airside then they can wait while you clear security to meet you ASAP once you're through.

That does sound really tough for you all, I hope the nurse can help today

I agree - you won't be able to take drinks through.

You can get Calpol in 5ml sachets which might be an alternative for the plane.

could he just munch jelly babies to keep his levels up whilst going through security?

For the paracetamol, get Calpol meltlets, and that will save decanting liquid. Also they’re easier to give quickly, as you just pop the pill out and he puts it in his mouth where it dissolves - no faffing about with sticky liquid.

Similarly, could you use glucose tablets rather than Coca Cola?

Drinks you can buy airside, medications you can take what you need as long as accompanied with a doctors letter

I take all of my meds in hand luggage when I travel, including needles (both tiny & huge), tablets & liquids.
As long as it's all properly declared at Security & there are appropriate documents (letters, prescriptions etc) I've never had any trouble.

Obviously I stick to the overall rule on liquids, there's not really anything you can do about that.

You wont be allowed drinks over 100ml sadly, you can however hold onto them to the last second and hand them over just as your bags go through. Provided you dont have anything you shouldn't and arent chosen for random searching you should then be able to go buy more pretty quickly.
If you dont think that 5-10 minute gap is sensible I suggest the pp idea is good. One adult goes through first and buys lucozade airside sends you a text once hes back near where security and the rest of you then head through keeping hold of drinks until the last possible second.
Another option would be glucose chews if hes able to use them.

You can take medicine through security, decant as previously stated, remember you all can carry 100ml through, so if you want to stock up all three of you can carry 100ml each. You can dispose of lucozade just before you go through security and buy in the duty free shop, there is usually a boots and/or wh Smith's in duty free, also stock up on calpol in boots, sprays wont be an issue. If still unsure ask the staff at security, they are there to help

but you buy it as soon as through security, you don't wait

Arrive at airport, put lucozade in hold baggage (presumably t=you will have some to travel with to the airport.)

Go through security (10 mins) and purchase another bottle of lucozade and calpol in boots or similar?

Or take the calpol meltlets.

You can buy Lucozade tablets, would this be an option?

OMG you are geniuses. Why didn't I think of the melts or sachets 🤦‍♀️
Excellent call. I'll sort that out ASAP.

There is only ds and I travelling so no one to go through - but good idea.

I think the eating jelly babies is a great idea. Only a few though or he'll possibly then have a sugar crash!

Luckily it seems there is a pattern of these attack's and no reason that travelling would be a cause.

It always when he increases his exercise. He's actually a swimmer. But he also has spasticity of the muscles and they've recently found a gene variant related to other genetic neuro muscular disorders but the variant ds has have never been seen before. Typical!

If the paracetamol is prescribed then you can take it through, the bottle and the box will require prescription labels. I would suggest glucose tablets for travel as compact, shelf stable and copes with heat well.

Glucose meter and lancets are also absolutely fine to take through security, but you might want to think about requesting a GP letter to cover you for all your supplies in case of issues abroad.

You can take what ever you need prescription wise through security as long as it's labelled and do a boots click and collect order for anything else. You'll have to decant drinks in to 100ml bottles.

I'd be more concerned about taking a child who regularly falls unconscious on an airplane. Perhaps wait until you've gotten to the bottom of it? If you choose to go anyway, make sure your insurance is aware and is happy to cover him.

How many adults will be flying - i.e. can two of you each take 100ml drink with you? I agree about the calpol meltlets, which are much better to take out with you than the liquid for your DS' age group.

At 14 why not just take paracetamol tablets? You can buy glucose tablets

Lucosade tablets exist?

AMAZING

Now this is why I love MN. When you are in the middle of a panic about how you'll keep your bigger than you 14yo ds upright when you can't do what you've always done - you discover there are many ways around it that didn't even occur to you.

Thanks everyone

I just use glucose tablets they're two packs for 75p in Tesco at the moment and cheaper than lucozade. You can get loads of different glucose tablets though