Syringes in hand luggage

[SimWes]

Did a search on this matter and found something dated January 2010. As 8 months have passed since I thought I’d try and find an up to date answer on this matter

My other half has to take medication with her on holiday that has to be administered by syringe (which she has to self inject).

She has a letter from the doctor mentioning her requirement for the medication. The Gatwick website has a mention, but also says that you have to get in touch with the carrier (Aer Lingus). This I’ve tried, but not received a reply yet. What form does this doctor’s letter have to be and what should it say etc?

For obvious reasons (possible delays, lost luggage etc) she wishes to carry the syringes in her hand luggage

Questions are:

Will she be OK taking it through the security (travelling from Gatwick) as is (issued in a box with each one contained in its own sealed container)?
Does she have to inform the carrier of this requirement (medication does not need to be taken onboard)?

Thanks in advance,

[Entaxei]

This sounds the same as the requirement for Diabetics on insulin, the Docters letter is a standard 'To whom it may concern' - confirming that the patient (named) - is a diabetic and requires to carry needles and insulin with them.

The letter format is a standard and known to all surgeries as they produce a fair quantity every year and so far as I know is accepted by all major airlines.

Have a good holiday!!

[IThink]

You will have no problem, I take mine in a little sandwich type pack that takes ice blocks. Just mention to security before it goes through the scanner. In maybe 50 or 60 trips only been asked for the letter once and that was because I didnt bother telling them before the scanner

[radeng]

Never tell them about the insulin pen and needles and they've nevr asked. Except at bangkok, where they were worried about the insulin - I was in transit - and asked several daft questions, such as 'Why do you have insulin?' and 'Why do you needs so much?' ( because I'm away for 4 weeks!)

[phreegreens]

I carry an Epipen for anaphylaxis, I was up until recently a very FF and I had no problems anywhere in the world, I always declared it at security and was always told no problem. I also had a doctors letter with me.

One time I forgot to mention it to the scanner operator at HKG as I was chatting to a colleague, it was spotted and I was pulled to one side. I went for my doctors letter and law of sod I had switched it into my checked bag with some other papers, there was a bit of form filling at the security point and when I got on board (CX) the crew had been alerted and I got the CSD asking if I was OK, etc. That was the only time it caused a minor problem.

[HXdave]

slight thread drift here, as i feel the other posters have answered your queries.

For obvious reasons (possible delays, lost luggage etc) she wishes to carry the syringes in her hand luggage


however you then go on to state:

(medication does not need to be taken onboard)?


whats the point of the syringes, if she has no medication? ok, if your baggage is lost you still have your syringes when you get to the other end, but nothing to put in them.

also, from a security point of view, would it not look more suspicious if you were carrying syringes but with no medication to use in them?

[bfisk]

Read as "medication does not need to be administered onboard"? That's how I read it. Not as in taken == brought.

[HXdave]

bfisk, never looked at it that way............ D'oh!

[Type1106]

I'm an insulin dependent diabetic and have been for over 10 years. In all my travels both pen syringe and insulin cartridges travel in my hand baggage and no security operator has ever commented nor when a hand search has been carried out. I have had my 10mls or so of aftershave confiscated by a jobsworth at LHR though......:confused:

[ExXB]

IThink

Have you not had problems with the ice? I was behind a woman at LHR T5 who had something that needed to be kept cold and had some ice (not icepacks). They took it away from her, but sent her off to the nearest restaurant to get some ice from them - everyone a happy camper.

I suppose a black hat could freeze some nasty stuff, thaw it out and then destroy the free world. Thank goodness security is on the job.

On a slight thread drift - have you seen FrioUK (http://www.friouk.com/)'s products? They keep my insulin pens nice and cool (not cold) and I've never had a problem at security. (Probably because the water evaporates). They stand up to Dubai in the summertime, can't recommend them enough!

[OFSO]

Last time this same question came up I answered it as follows: Mrs OFSO flies once a month (not broomstick - usually FR) - carries steriods and needles for dealing with an asthma attack - used to mention them to security until she realised security was more interested in seizing bottles of water, face cream, tubs of fois gras, marmite, yoghurt, etc., and now she doesn't even bother saying anything. Never been stopped, never been queried.

So don't worry.