L3ProVision ATD airport scanner safe?

Finishing a trip overseas and was faced twice with the new body scanner at Detroit airport. I refused to go through, opting for the patdown. I know the TSA guys were frustrated. They said the technology is the same as a cell phone and safe with a pacemaker. Well, my doc said to keep my cell phone away from the pacemaker, so I don't imagine going through the machine is a good thing.

Any comments/experience?

17 Comments

Dignity

by ILoominatedEKG - 2012-10-05 02:10:55

From what I understand, it's the magnets, not the EM radiation, that we have to worry about. But I don't trust the TSA and government any more than any other liar, cheat, or thief. Every person, cororation, or institution denies any problems with anything until people start dying.

Personally, I refuse to fly again until I can board and depart the airplane with my dignity intact. Unless I win the lottery and buy my own jet, that means never.

Best wishes,

Dave

scanners

by Alma Annie - 2012-10-05 06:10:30

I think we only have the old scanners here in Australian airports, but once I have said I have a pacemaker, a pat down is provided and they have told me the wand and scanners are not safe. However I had to go to court with my son and they refused me a pat down and insisted on using the wand. That made my heart go all over the place and I felt 'queer' for about 15 minutes. I have taken this up with the authorities but it is taking a long time. I believe we have the right to refuse the scanners if we are willing to have a pat down.
Alma Annie

No avoiding it in the UK

by SaraTB - 2012-10-05 10:10:02

The UK took a decision that there was no option: if you are selected to go on the scanner line, instead of the metal detector, there is no opt-out. You either go through the scanner or you don't get the flight, end of story. No pat-down alternative.

No reports of anyone having problems with pacemakers as far as I'm aware.

I went through the Heathrow ones twice this summer, and the ones at JFK once - no problem on any occasion, and it's certainly preferable to a pat-down, in my view.

I'm all for being cautious, but I also believe in being realistic about risk: I'm prepared to get ON the plane in the first place, drive a car, eat steak tartare: life is full of risk. Keep it in perspective!

it's safe!

by Tracey_E - 2012-10-05 11:10:13

The new scanners use xray technology, so they're perfectly safe for us. I've been through them more than a dozen times now. If they have both regular metal detectors and the scanner open, I ask for the scanner because it's faster/easier than a pat down.

Annie

by Tracey_E - 2012-10-06 08:10:35

The wands are a more concentrated form of the metal detectors! They are actually worse for us. It can be used, but only below the waist. As you learned, tho, we just feel funny for a second, it doesn't do any harm.

In the US the scanners are still voluntary BUT if you refuse it you get an enhanced pat down, which is much more thorough than the regular pat down.

Dave, the metal detectors have magnets, yes, that's why we should avoid them. The new scanners use xray, not magnets. There is evidence that too much xray is not safe so it's an issue for airline personnel but not a big deal for the casual flyer. It's a pita, but if I never got on a plane, I'd never see my family so I suck it up and make nice with TSA.

L3 ProVidion ATD

by NancyinMichigan - 2012-10-06 09:10:12

Yes, the one you stand in and raise your arm. The signs explain milliwave technology, and the make of the machine is the title of this post. I opted for patdowns in the US and Europe. The TSA women doing the patdowns were non invasive and gentle over the pacemaker area.

They also agreed with my not going through the machine. One even said that she would refuse to go through it if she had a pacemaker.

I didn't mind the short delay or the patdown. I would mind a problem with my pacemaker.

To TraceyE

by Alma Annie - 2012-10-06 09:10:16

The wand was scanned all over me and I was told just to put my hand over pm. Well that was not going to do much! Anyway, I felt queer for at least 15 mins, not just for a second. My heart rate became jumpy and uneven and I would think slowed to about 20. I am 100% paced and EP has completely totalled my sinus node, which is probably why I felt like that. I would rather not go to court than feel like that again.
Interesting fact I felt similar when standing in front of a pa system, also dizzy and had to move away. Fine after a while.

Alma Annie

Scanner

by Peg541 - 2012-10-06 09:10:31

When you say Scanner you mean that backscatter thing you stand in with your arms raised?

I am flying in two weeks for the first time since my PM implant and need to know what to do.

I am at LAX in Los Angeles.

Thanks for any assistance. I know to present my card but that's all I know.

After 10 yrs of pat-downs I went

by janetinak - 2012-10-06 10:10:45

thru the hands over the head scanner last Feb at th Anchorage, Seattle & Sacramento airports & what a joy! Hope to never have to have a pat-down again. Scanners for me.

Janet

Annie

by Tracey_E - 2012-10-06 10:10:54

A PA system can do the same thing, it has magnets. The pm has a little switch in it, a magnet pulls the switch closed and puts it in test mode with limited function, just like when they interrogate it. It's still pacing, but only at your minimum rate. As soon as you get away from the magnet, the switch opens again and it goes back to full function with no harm done. I don't know why you'd feel bad for so long after, symptoms should have gone away as soon as it got back to full function. Odd!

Next time someone insists it's ok to wand you over your pm, get a supervisor. Be polite but firm. They are absolutely wrong to think your hand is enough protection. It has to stay at least 6-8" from the device. I've only run into problems twice, oddly enough in the same place but several years apart (Old Post Office Pavilion in DC). Everywhere else I've been has either waved me through or been content to wand from the waist done.

Airport detector

by Jax - 2012-10-07 01:10:47

I haven't had a problem. I tell an TSA agent and they put me in the line with the correct scanner. The one that you have to put your hands over yr head. Not a big deal. They were very nice about it also...so far anyway.
I'm flying again this week and I hope I get the same
scenario. Tracey--- thats great info. Thanks.

To Tracey E

by Alma Annie - 2012-10-07 07:10:13

Thanks for your comments. Husband just bought new toy, a generator that is supposedly pm friendly. So I got close and then hovered over it. Heart beat slowed, jumped around and again I felt queer. Walked away and it was several minutes before heart 'righted' itself again. I can only think that it is because I am 100% paced, and it just takes time for the heart to get back to normal. At least I am finding out what can happen. As for the court situation, I was firm but to no avail. Either I had the wand or I did not go in and I really needed to support son who was going through a divorce. That is why I am trying to find the right authority who can sort it.
Alma Annie

Janet

by Tracey_E - 2012-10-07 09:10:00

That's how I felt! I was so happy the first time I was able to get on a plane without a pat down. I think we're probably the only two who request the scanner with a smile.

Arms over head scanner

by donr - 2012-10-08 10:10:17

If it is indeed millimeter wave technology, there is no problem w/ it.

Millimeter waves are very, very high frequency & do not penetrate the human body very deeply. They will not get through the case of your PM, either. PLUS - the strength of them is quite low. If you saw a view of the scanner output, that the TSA person sees, you would realize that it shows NOTHING below the level of your clothing. IIRC, the mm waves are very heavily attenuated by water if they pick the right frequency, so they are stopped nearly immediately by all the water in your body. Were you to wander into the machine after being caught in a sudden downpour w/o an umbrella or rain coat, that would probably block the waves completely before they even reached your body.

MOF, the TSA agent I talked to about it told me that it merely highlighted areas of the body for them to check either visually or w/ a wand.

I do not consider them to be very effective - I went through two different machines at Reagan Airport in DC & they highlighted two different areas for the agents to examine.

Don

Cardiologist says no

by NancyinMichigan - 2012-10-10 09:10:34

Cardiologist said no to this or any other type of scanner. Just thought I'd add this update.

Assume

by Peg541 - 2012-10-11 10:10:01

I guess I cannot assume the folks at LAX have a clue. I'll call my EP today and ask his tech. Then I'll take my chances but no wand right?
The back scatter thing is supposedly OK but Nancy above says her Cardio guy says no.
I'll check it out.
Don R I trust your comments the most. I do have a knee replacement but that's another issue.

ATD scanners at airports

by dlynn0454 - 2014-07-27 02:07:37

I just got back from a trip to Colorado. At the Phoenix AZ airport, I held out my Medtronic card and requested a patdown, the female TSA officer was very pleasant and gave me no problems at all. When we got to the airport in Colorado and in the security line, I had my card out again, showed it to a TSA officer and said I need a patdown. Well first of all, this old geeser needed to be home on retirement, he never smiled and was just a complete jackass....telling me, aww you will be fine, just go through it and walked away....well needless to say I was livid....you are NOT my cardiologist and you are playing with a serious issue here, no one there could assure me it would be safe so I DEMANDED a pat down. The female officer I had there was awesome, very polite and actually funny, telling me how aggrivating people flying were, cause they just didn't listen and would set their bags anywhere....she had a long day and I said we needed to go get a drink, cause I wasn't happy at that moment either...we both had a good laugh....so I guess it's going to be a call to my cardiologist so I can find out for sure if it's safe to go thru the ATD scanner.....TSA people need to be better educated and more well mannered!!!!!

You know you're wired when...

You can hear your heartbeat in your cell phone.

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