Keeping Your [Meds] Cool
Twice a day, my younger son inhales a nebulized medication that requires refrigeration. Over the years, packing (and remembering) this medication has singlehandedly created more chaos and mayhem than an Allstate commercial.
The most infamous? A travel day between Croatia and neighboring Slovenia.
Our group of 9 had rented 2 cars for that trip, and loading suitcases, leftover groceries, medical gear and meds was hectic. Eventually, we crammed it all in and jauntily drove 2 hours to Ljubljana, Slovenia.
My son doing his daily “nebs” AKA nebulizer treatments
The chaos that preceded our departure from Croatia — looking back I see the signs…
We spent a lovely day exploring this jewel box of a city. In my opinion, Slovenia is one of the most under appreciated countries in Europe.
Mom enjoying a peaceful moment before the med crisis along the Ljubljanica River
Then came 7 pm.
While unpacking in the hotel, I discovered with a wave of dread that the refrigerated medication was still in the fridge…. in Croatia! I called the Croatian Airbnb host, who thankfully had found it and agreed to hold it until we returned.
Fueled with Coca-Cola Zero and gummy candy, Christy and I jumped in the car and made the 4 hour roundtrip back to Croatia to retrieve it.
So glad to have my paws on this!
The Croatian border we crossed twice that day
What we learned
Have a packing plan - especially for refrigerated meds. Create a system and a specific time to pack them. A written checklist or phone alarm can be a lifesaver.
Know your med’s limits. Talk with your pharmacist about your med’s temperature guidelines. Can it be frozen? How long can it sit at room temperature? In our case, the pharmacist unfolded the map-sized insert to show us my son’s med can sit at room temperature for up to 10 hours.
Confirm fridge access ahead of time. We found that not all hotels have mini fridges. When in doubt, email the hotel ahead of time and see if they can store it in their kitchen fridge.
Pair your meds with something unforgettable. We stash our car keys in the fridge because we can’t leave without those!
Always carry meds on the plane. Pack temperature sensitive meds in your carry on, ideally in its own cooler.
Keep original packaging and label everything. It helps TSA, hotel staff, Airbnb hosts, etc. know that it’s a prescription and important. I like the write our name, room number and phone number in a sharpie in case it’s misplaced.
Bring documentation. We always travel with a printed list of medications, diagnoses and doctor and pharmacy numbers. If you’re a MyChart user, you can usually print this information. Sometimes I even get fancy and laminate it!
Traveling with refrigerated med can feel overwhelming, but with a little planning you can avoid the chaos of late night border crossings. We’ve learned the key is preparation, flexibility and a sense of humor when things go sideways. At the end of the day, it’s all about the adventure and your family’s health is definitely worth the extra miles.