you do realize that any medical consumer information person is extremely limited in the advice he/she can give and can not give any Off Label recommendations. he basically said what the label said and you got all up tight when he couldn't vary. if you expected otherwise, you were sadly mistaken.
as I say, get a water proof camera/gps/etc. bag or hard plastic container at walmart. get a dessicant device of some kind to put in the container with the strips and store them in the refrigerator while you are gone. they will be at a reasonable temperature and humidity controlled area while you are gone.
bumpy