Screen or not to Screen

I will be taking my first flight since having my surgery for an ICD. My question to you is Screen or not to screen? While I have read to stay away from magnets, do not let the wand at the airport get too close to your device. Even read recently that it is safe to go through those screens and it is not a problem to have the wand close as long as it is not too long (20 secs). I have made up my mind as to what I will do just would like to get other peoples advice and opinion on what they do. Thanks in advance.
J

7 Comments

i was just at the airport

by my4turtles - 2013-04-27 02:04:17

I just went to Hawaii, and they now have a screening that you can go into that is safe with a pacemaker.. The last time i went i had to have a pat down.. Just let them know you have a pacemaker and show them your card. If you dont like the idea off the machine you can still have the pat down..

flown several times

by L5 - 2013-04-27 04:04:03

I have flown several times since having the pacemaker. In my experience my asking for a pat down made no difference. They wanted me to go through the full body scanner and would not take no for an answer. As long as you tell them you have a pacemaker and have your card just in case they want to see it they should direct you to where you can get through security safely. Have a nice trip!

L5

by Tracey_E - 2013-04-27 04:04:41

The new scanners are safe for pm's. Refusing the scanners means you get an enhanced pat down, no thanks.

traveling

by Tracey_E - 2013-04-27 04:04:49

Some people routinely go through them without problems but I do not. There is a very very small chance going through a metal detector will reset the settings on your pm. Not life threatening, but definitely an inconvenience. It's more likely you will go through it and make it beep, in which case it's faster to just get the pat down in the first place. They tend to get cranky when you go through knowing you have metal on you. When I hand them my id I always tell them I have a pm and ask which line I should go in. I've flown countless times with a pm, it's never been an issue. TSA has always been fast and polite.

Wands are the same technology but stronger, never let anyone wand you above the waist. I try to dodge any and all wands. It may be safer than it used to be but I'm not taking any chances! I'm dependent on my pm and my settings are highly specialized. I've actually run into the most problems at federal buildings, in my experience they're a much bigger hassle than airports or courthouses.

The 3D scanners are fine, but I think they are taking them out of the airports now?

scanners

by L5 - 2013-04-27 05:04:11

I haven't refused the scanners, but have always gone through them. I just avoid the wands and the arch that is a metal detector. When I went to fly for the first time I asked my doctor if I needed to do anything special and he said to be on the safe side ask for a pat down. Which I did, but TSA said the full body scanner was safe for my pacemaker so I took them at their word. So I haven't had the enhanced pat down but sounds like I'm glad I avoided it! I've flown several times since the pacemaker and have always gone through the full body scanners with no trouble. I don't know why my doctor told me to ask for a pat down.


i should add

by my4turtles - 2013-04-27 07:04:46

The first time they made me have a pat down it took foreverrrrrrr.. Even checking in my ear's ...i mean really !!!
down my pants in my underwear, it was really really detailed and in the middle off the airport. They look down your pants its not like there pulling them down but still if you can do the scanner it saves a lot off time

I have flown every year to several

by janetinak - 2013-04-28 12:04:31

airports with my PM since 2000. I have been tru the newer back scatter scanner at least 4 airports w/o any problems & I am 100% paced. I love these new scanners & sure hope they do not take them out. But last Feb I went thru Seattle & it was so busy I was directed to what I thought was the scanner & even went thru twice 'cause altho my PM didn't alert at all my total knee replacements triggered the metal detector. So then I had to be patted down but not any different than last few yrs pat downs. No looking down my pants, etc. Just the usual stuff-blue dish washer gloves, let me know if hurting me (doesn't) couldn't be any more polite, Next time I had my Boston Scientific PM card (in several languages) in hand, showed it to lead TSA agent & went thru the correct scanner-no problems.

You know you're wired when...

You can feel your fingers and toes again.

Member Quotes

My pacemaker is the best thing that every happened to me, had I not got it I would not be here today.