Navigating TSA check points with Tube Feeding Supplies
Now that the world is opening up and we're all getting back to traveling, it is helpful to revisit tips for flying with a feeding tube. The challenge is still present, but with proper preparation it can be done. Navigating TSA checkpoints can be especially difficult if you’re not prepared. There are many websites with excellent advice on what to do. These websites
TSA,
Feeding Tube Awareness and
Oley Foundation have excellent suggestions on how to make travel easier.
Prepare for Flying:
-
- Well before you leave, check with the airline and TSA to see if you can get an advocate to help you through security.
- Have your doctor write an explanation of your medical condition.
- Document all the medical supplies and equipment you are bringing with you.
- Check with state laws on prescription medicines you may be carrying.
- Create a Disability Notification Card from TSA’s website. Just print it out, fill in your condition and present it when going through security.
- Tube feeding formula, breast milk and juice are permitted in reasonable quantities to go through security.
At the TSA check point:
-
- Show your medical paperwork to the TSA agent.
- Let the TSA agent know that you have a feeding tube and are carrying medically necessary liquid nutrition, any feeding equipment you have and medications.
Nutrition and medication screening:
-
- Your nutrition and medications are exempt from the 3-1-1 rule, but you will have to remove them from your carry-on bag screening.
- TSA officers may need to test liquids for explosives or concealed prohibited items. Be ready to open the container and/or have you transfer a small quantity of the liquid to a separate empty container.
- Inform TSA if you do not want the nutrition and/or juice to be X-rayed or opened.
- Medication may be visually checked or X-rayed and tested for traces of explosives.
- You are responsible for displaying, handling, and repacking after screening.
- You may undergo additional screening including a pat-down and inspection of your carry-ons.
Flying with U Deliver Medical Products:
Using U Deliver Medical products can make flying with a feeding tube a little easier and less messy. If you are using your own blend, pre-fill a Bolee® Bag with the nutrition you need for your trip. Keeping it on ice until you connect it to a Bolink® Large Cap is one way to go. Label your Bolee Bag as medically necessary nutrition and have documentation from your healthcare provider.
You could also pack packaged nutrition (commercial tube feeding or a pureed food pouch). If you are using pureed food pouches you can connect directly to your feeding tube using the Bolink Small Cap.
If you are using packaged tube feeding, you have 3 options:
- Fill a Bolee Bag, attach a Bolink Large Cap and enjoy your meal.
- For nutrition in a tetra with a DreamCap, just screw on a Bolink D Cap and it's meal time.
- If prefer an ENFit syringe, fill a Bolee Bag, attach an ENFit transfer lid to the Bolee Bag, fill your syringe and start your meal, repeating the filling process until the Bolee Bag is empty.
Here are some videos that show how to fill your Bolee Bag before leaving for the airport and to use it once you're on the plane or at the airport to have meal by connecting it to a Bolink Large Cap or filling an ENFit syringe using an ENFit transfer lid. The last video shows how easy it is to use the Bolink D Cap with a tetra that has a DreamCap.
Hopefully the above tips and traveling information on the other websites we referred to will make your trip through the airport just a little bit easier! Click on the button below to go right to the U Deliver Medical online store.
