TSA Combined Thread (braces, ports, guests with disabilities and airport screening)

[mom_2a_sept_princess]

Hi! We are leaving for Orlando (although not Disney) on Thanksgiving morning...

My daughter is 7 and uses a wheelchair full time. She can not walk. I usually go through the metal dectector first then go around and pick Emma up out of her wheels and walk through with her. A few times the TSA person looked confused that I was doing this but I know it is legal and no one really gave me a hard time. One TSA officer actually told me I was doing the right thing by carrying Emma through the metal detector.

Any way...with the full body scan...Can I carry Emma through it or does she need the pat down? Also, Emma has a VP shunt. You can see the tube in her belly with a regular x-ray. Will the new body scan show the tubing too? Will there be an issue with that? If you feel her head you can feel the shunt but I really don't want some person feeling Emma's head b/c I;m sure they won't know what they are touching.

Any advice would be great.

Thanks so much.

Amy

 

[PatsMom]

A friend of mine has his story on MSNBC.com right now, along with some other news outlets. He is a bladder cancer survivor and has a urostomy with a bag attachment to collect urine. Prior to the new procedures, he did not have problems traveling. The medical equipment did not set off the medical detectors. This trip he got selected for the new scanner. He failed because it detected the bag attached to his body.

He requested privacy for the patdown and they were upset about that. Finally he was taken to an office, trying to explain what the urostomy required that thay if they touched enough to break the seal, he would leak urine all over himself. They just kept telling him they didn't need to know. He eventually was given permission to put his belt back on - like many survivors he wears pants a few sizes too big to accommodate the bag and they were falling down because he had removed his belt at security.

The pat down dislodged the wafer that prevents the bag from leaking. The TSA agents were aware of what they had done - they couldn't not be since the urine began leaking immediately. Due to time constraints, my friend was not able to clean up, get some dry pants from a carry on and change his bag and wafer until he was on the airplane. Needless to say he found it horribly humiliating to walk through the airport with urine leaking onto his pants.

I know security is a necessary evil, but there has got to be a better way than this.

 

[SmallWorld71]

I will start a new thread if needed, but I thought someone here might know the answer. Does everyone have to go through the full body scanners/ pat down or is it just select people? We traveled from Logan airport a couple months ago and I thought they were one of the first airports to get the scanners. But, all we had to do was walk through the regular metal detectors. I had on my knee brace and they just took the wand to it. I'm confused.

 

[BillSears]

I've got a leg bag and catheter and I've always explained it to the TSA. But with the new enhanced pat downs I'm worried. I'll be flying out a week from today so I guess I'll find out what happens then.

 

[deegack]

Unforunately it depends on the tsa agent you get what will happen. The best thin to do is explain what you need and if you don't like the answer request a supervisor. If there is a family/medical line use it. Not the same thing but I traveled with medicine that needed to be injected. The first tsa agent said not to put it through the xray but have it hand searched by the next agent the next agent said to just put it through the machine. I told her I wanted it hand searched. I was also quizzed as to why I needed it which I don't think is appropriate but that is another issue. On the way back i was told to carry it through the wtmd.
The only thing that is certain is that everytime you go through the process it will be different depending on who you get and what their mood is.

 

[WheeledTraveler]

My impression is that with the new rules, no, you will not be able to carry your daughter through. Part of this is how the new full body scanners work (the person needs to be able to stand for a few minutes with hands raised above their heads). She will get the pat down.

While I know you'll be able to state things like that she has a shunt, I would suggest also if she can speak (my memory is that your daughter can?) that you rehearse with her so that she can say it as well. I do not know exactly what level of access you will have to your daughter while the pat down is happening. I suspect you can be present, but cannot touch her during that time.

 

[WheeledTraveler]

I will start a new thread if needed, but I thought someone here might know the answer. Does everyone have to go through the full body scanners/ pat down or is it just select people? We traveled from Logan airport a couple months ago and I thought they were one of the first airports to get the scanners. But, all we had to do was walk through the regular metal detectors. I had on my knee brace and they just took the wand to it. I'm confused.

When I traveled last month (airports used were Orlando and Hartford) some security lines had the new scanners some didn't. In Hartford it was pretty easy to judge which lines went to which scanner, but I didn't even check in Orlando. One thing I will mention is that if you're in a line with an old style scanner, but for whatever reason end up needing a pat down, they do the enhanced pat downs for all pat downs (at least when it comes to adults). I'm a wheelchair user and I can't stand long enough for a regular screening even and I definitely go the enhanced pat down.

 

[SmallWorld71]

When I traveled last month (airports used were Orlando and Hartford) some security lines had the new scanners some didn't. In Hartford it was pretty easy to judge which lines went to which scanner, but I didn't even check in Orlando. One thing I will mention is that if you're in a line with an old style scanner, but for whatever reason end up needing a pat down, they do the enhanced pat downs for all pat downs (at least when it comes to adults). I'm a wheelchair user and I can't stand long enough for a regular screening even and I definitely go the enhanced pat down.

Thanks for the answer. I guess we just got lucky in Boston and ended up with the old detectors.

 

[SueM in MN]

From news reports and the TSA and other websites, not all airports have the new AIT scanners and not all lines in the airports that do have them are using them. So, even if your airport has the new scanners, you may be sent thru a metal detector.

This is a link to the TSA website's page about AIT scanners and how they work. (this is an introduction page, with links to other pages about how it works, etc.).

Since the scanner makes an image, someone who is not able to hold a specific position for a few seconds while the scan is being made will not be able to use the new scanner. The OP would not be able to walk thru that type of scanner carrying her child.

Passengers who refuse the AIT scanner are considered to have "Opted out" and will get a thorough patdown (also passengers who trigger the metal detector). THis is a link to the TSA page about patdowns.

I have not found anything on the TSA website confirming it, but websites like Flyertalk are saying that people with disabilities who are not able to go thru the AIT scanner are not considered to have "Opted out" since they are not able to go thru.
It does say on the TSA website, that children under 12 will not receive a new style patdown, but will receive a modified patdown. This is a link to the Holiday Travel hints from the TSA head John Pistole - it includes some statements about rights of passengers and the statement about children under 12.
There is little more in writing on the TSA website about new policies and passengers with disabilities. It is a good idea to check the website at tsa.gov before you travel and print out items that are pertinent to your situation.

 

[SueM in MN]

The ostomy story is disturbing and points to TSA people who are not well trained. From looking at the TSA website, they have included people with disabilities in their planning for various screening. I know that the TSA agents we have encountered in Minneapolis and Orlando when traveling with DD in her wheelchair have been generally very nice and very professional. But, with as many airports and as many TSA staff as there are, it's not a surprise that some are rude or ill trained.

Interestingly, on the question of braces, I found a TSA page I had not seen before. The first page talks about passengers with braces, artificial limbs, etc (and does include your rights - like they will not require you to remove the braces - so you probably want to print it out).
It also includes some information about ostomies that says passengers should advise TSA agents that they have an ostomy and that they will not be required to remove it. There is some information on that page about external devices (which would include ostomy appliances) which is contradictory:
"If you are wearing an exterior medical device and are uncomfortable with going through the metal detector or be handwanded, you may request a pat-down inspection and visual inspection of your device instead.....
# Security Officers should not be asking you to remove your orthopedic shoes, appliances, or medical device (insulin pump, feeding tube, ostomy or urine bag, or exterior component of cochlear implant) at any time during the screening process.
Advise the Security Officer if you have an ostomy or urine bag. You will not be required to expose these devices for inspection."
That page is not new, but there is a link on that page to a page about a new technology, introduced in 2008 called CastScope, which allows TSA to check casts, braces and similar devices without having them removed. From the description, it is the same general technology as the new AIT scanners, using back scatter technology to produce a clear image of casts, prosthesis, etc.
This is a page about AIT scanners from the TSA website that talks about how they work. From what I have read, some airports have had backscatter technology AIT scanners installed - which sound like they would be able to handle casts, braces and other devices. Some airports have had millimeter wave technology scanners installed, which I can't find out anything more about whether those will clear things like casts, braces, etc.

 

[LockShockBarrel]

I just read that article! How embarrassing... I sense a LOT of lawsuits coming for the TSA. Someone's going to get hurt or something is going to get jostled, be it an ostomy opening or a port or whatever but it will not end well.

To anyone on here that is concerned, I can only say good luck and be firm. Don't do the quiet "Well..um..just so you know...I have this medical thing and it's on my stomach and you might hit it so I just wanted you to watch for it?". Tell them straight out and firmly, "I have a medical device attached to my stomach. Be careful around it".

 

[KPeveler]

I just read that article! How embarrassing... I sense a LOT of lawsuits coming for the TSA. Someone's going to get hurt or something is going to get jostled, be it an ostomy opening or a port or whatever but it will not end well.

To anyone on here that is concerned, I can only say good luck and be firm. Don't do the quiet "Well..um..just so you know...I have this medical thing and it's on my stomach and you might hit it so I just wanted you to watch for it?". Tell them straight out and firmly, "I have a medical device attached to my stomach. Be careful around it".

Exactly. If you are clear (but not threatening or rude), TSA generally does well with you.

And I agree with the first point too - If someone hugs me gently or tries to raise my right arm above a certain point, my shoulder dislocates... If you hug me too hard, vertebrae in my neck and back can sublux, causing acute pain and temporary paralysis-type-things...

My biggest problem with this whole process is a lack of information. I wish TSA would make it clear how people like me who have a REAL problem being touched for medical reasons, or people with ports or pacemakers, or other medical conditions were supposed to proceed! Information can really help make things faster, smoother, and safer.

 

[Schmeck]

Right now the 'child' option is only being used for those under the age of 12, I thought? So a 14-15 year old may not have the scanning option removed from the ticket?

 

[Bete]

but a man has a million dollar law case in the works over this issue, already. He has titanium knees and some other mechanical parts. After a scan and a pat down the alarm was still going off. He explained until he was blue in the face about his body issues. The agent expected him to go in a special room and completely undress; he refused. He said he did enough and tried to explain his medical condition again. Anyway, they would not let him fly. He was on his way to make a deal for his business and sign a contract; you guessed it; it was worth a million dollars.

I suspect if this keeps up we will see car driving for vacations on the rise. I wish we could all boycott the airlines for a while, then all of a sudden there would be a better solution. Anyway, AAA is saying this will be the biggest driving year over the Thanksgiving holiday.

I'm afraid we are in for a bad situation, here; until, some of these lawsuits get won by individuals.

 

[Bete]

but I would almost go to the airport for a trial run. You can call your airport and airlines, too. Find out what your airport is doing and be prepared for yourself and your daughter. I know it's no fun to do the airport thing twice, but it might be worth it. See if you get lucky enough and see others that are in your similar situation and then watch very carefully for what happens with the TSA. I might go as far as getting the TSA's name and state so and so did this way if you are lucky enough to find a similar circumstance as yours. The inconsistencies among the TSA's will cause many lawsuits in the future; I'm sure. There's no guarantee you will be treated the same as you see in your trial run, but at least you'll have a better idea of it all. You might even want to consider taking your daugther and get someone to explain to her and you exactly what will happen on your day and hope it will be as they say on your trial run. Again, I would take down names of anyone involved with the explanation.

Your daughter has to understand even if you go through a trail run it might be slightly different on the day of. Good luck and our prayers are with you.

 

[SueM in MN]

The TSA website makes it all look neat and tidy "anyone with unresolved issues after metal detector or scan will be submitted to further search" (not an exact quote). It sounds though like for many TSA agents, anyone with "unresolved issues" is going right past "needs more evaluation" to "probable person with dangerous item."
The TSA site has always said to alert the TSA screamers before screening of any attached or implanted medical devices. I don't know if the people with disabilities who have been in the news with problems alerted the TSA agents ahead of time that they would have something show up, but I think that knowing ahead of time would lead the agents more down the path of " needs further evaluation" and away from " dangerous item."
Despite people on another website saying that my DD has not had a thorough patdown, it was thorough enough that they found the small pocket of gel in her wheelchair seat cushion right under her coccyx. The further evaluation they did included asking her to get out of the wheelchair so they could send her seat cushion thru the X-ray machine. In the future, we will probably want to mention the gel in her seat cushion ahead of time so it becomes an expected finding rather than an unresolved issue.

 

[videogal1]

I have reading the new TSA changes and other threads regarding the TSA. I have a port in my abdomen, are they going to give me an isssue because of it? I can definitly get documentation from my doctor and I have a medical ID bracelet but am worried about this.

Any advice or thought would be appreciated.

Thanks

I had a baclofen pump, about the size and shape of a hockey puck, implanted several years ago and the manufacturer sent an ID card for me to show when I flew. I never had to use the card and I might have shown it when the pump was detected but, luckily, the TSA agents I encountered had enough sense to accept my verbal assurance when I told them what it was. The Air Carrier Access Act only requires a "credible verbal assurance" in medical matters but there's always going to be some officious nut case out there screening against hairpins in the name of "security". I think, though, that, like a previous poster, I, too, will not be flying again.

 

[KPeveler]

I had a baclofen pump, about the size and shape of a hockey puck, implanted several years ago and the manufacturer sent an ID card for me to show when I flew. I never had to use the card and I might have shown it when the pump was detected but, luckily, the TSA agents I encountered had enough sense to accept my verbal assurance when I told them what it was. The Air Carrier Access Act only requires a "credible verbal assurance" in medical matters but there's always going to be some officious nut case out there screening against hairpins in the name of "security". I think, though, that, like a previous poster, I, too, will not be flying again.

Can you post the link to the ACAA about the "credible verbal assurance." B/c it sounds like THAT will be important in a lot of disputes.

 

[SueM in MN]

If you look in post 15 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread, you will find links to the Air Carrier Access Act

 

[KPeveler]

If you look in post 15 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread, you will find links to the Air Carrier Access Act

Ok, now I feel silly! I can't believe I missed that!