Can anyone recommend a decent electric coolbox or reasonable priced camping fridge?
Since last summer I've been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and have to inject myself with beta-interferon once a week. I have to keep the injections stored below 25 degrees or they have to be thrown away. Since I work for the NHS and I know they cost £180 each I want to make sure this doesn't happen!
Last winter we bought a bigger tent with the plan for going on a 2 week holiday for the first time ever. But the injection thing has me worried. Our electric coolbox is a very cheap one and I doubt it would be guaranteed to stay below 25 degrees. So either we need to get a better one or maybe a site would be able to store the injections for me? They are in a sealed box. We're not planning a trip this year for various reasons but hopefully next year will be going for two weeks.
we got an electric fridge for hubby's insulin as the performance is far more even. It cools to a certain temp rather than 17 deg below ambient. We also have an electric coolbox and I don't feel that's really up to the job in very warm weather (it can also freeze contents if there is a drop in ambient temp)
If you only need to inject once a week, can you find somewhere local-ish to keep them for you.
For example, if you were on the North Norfolk coast, I know my mum (a nurse who works from home) would keep them in her fridge for you.
She belongs to a network of nurses all over the country, mmm perhaps she could go into business! - only joking, let me know where you're going and I'll ask her!
------------- Yes, the car is bigger than the 'van.
I could ask a local gp surgery I suppose? I didn't think of that. I have my injections delivered to work as we have a vaccine fridge to keep them in until I go home.
I'm worried enough about losing my mobility etc in the future and plan to keep camping as long as possible. I don't intend to give up over a small thing like keeping injections cool!
Lynne, if you are booking a site prior to going, you could ask the owner/warden if they could keep it in their fridge for you explaining the importance of keeping it cool
We keep insulin cool in a normal wide mouth vacuum flask. Cool it with ice or even cold tap water in the morning and it keeps cool all day. A small coke bottle in the campsite freezer overnight will cool the flask to near zero. You can get a few cubes of ice from any bar/restaurant if you are on the road. This works even in the heat of the south of France.
Aldi had electric cool boxes in a couple of weeks ago and my local one still has them. I think they were under £30. We bought one 3 years ago from Aldi and it's been brilliant.