set off security alarm at Kohl's

Hi Everyone,

Hope you all are doing well. It's been quite some time since I last posted. I got my PM implanted about a year and half ago and even though I never thought I would get to this point ~ I have totally adjusted and have pretty much forgotten about it and never even give it a second thought anymore. Until yesterday. My husband and I were out shopping and the second we walked into the first store the security alarm went off. I didn't think much about it, but right away a lady came over and started checking us out and asking questions. It took me by surprise and for the life of me I could not figure out why we set the alarm off ~ then it dawned on me ~ my pacemaker caused it! Once I explained that to her she was okay and let us in to do our shopping. She did not ask for my ID, but I was prepared to show it to her just in case. I set if off again on the way out, but they let us go without issue since they already knew what caused it. I was totally shocked and had forgotten this can happen! So just a reminder ~ if you walk through a metal detector and it goes off, it just might be your PM so always remember to carry your ID with you!

~Sheila

8 Comments

me too

by knb123 - 2015-08-03 08:08:17

Sheila, did you pause near the security portals at all? Last month at Kohls, I was browsing a rack of t-shirts that, as it turned out, were positioned a bit too close to the security portals. Sure enough, the alarm went off. Interestingly, it stopped alarming as soon as I moved away from it...and no burly security guards appeared.

Since then I have passed through innumerable "shrinkage-control" gateways without incident...but tarrying near that one was evidently enough to activate it. (And this is what the EP nurse told me, too: you can pass through them without a problem but it's important to keep moving.)

No

by bluebowtye - 2015-08-03 08:08:51

No, I did not linger near it at all. We just were walking into the store, and barely got in the door before the alarm started going off. I think Kohl's must have theirs set to be extra sensitive since that's the same store you were in when it happened to you.

Another weird thing happened to me the day before ~ I was in the mall in Maurices and was carrying some things around with me that I wanted to buy. I was walking from one side of the store to the other and the alarm kept going off every time I went in front of the door. I thought it was just because I was too close to the security system and the tags were setting it off, even though that has never happened before. No one came over to check me. I never once thought it was my PM because I didn't set it off when I came in nor when I left. I have never had this happen before and have gone through lots of security systems. Very strange ~ I guess you just never know when you might set one off!

So far...

by Grateful Heart - 2015-08-04 01:08:34


I have set off the security alarms in Home Depot, Kohls, Best Buy and BJ's Wholesale Club. It doesn't happen every time, thank goodness, just once in a while.

It has happened to a few of us here.

So welcome to the "other" club. :-)

Grateful Heart

Donr, you're hilarious!

by knb123 - 2015-08-04 02:08:12

I laughed out loud at your description of the family dogs. Thanks for the chuckle on a Tuesday morning.

As for my Kohls experience setting off the alarm: I was on an important mission at the time--shopping for a Chicago Blackhawks Stanley Cup Champions t-shirt. The alarm nearly scared the stuffing out of me! I gave Pacey a stern talking-to after that.

Ok, Try this one on...

by donr - 2015-08-04 03:08:11

...for size.

I have had experiences opening electronically operated doors. I walk near them & they open; walk away & they close. Not at Kohl's. Home of the Pot, or Best Buy, etc.

It's our doggie door & our #2 Daughter's doggie door.

Each dog (and cat) wears a box around their neck that continuously emits an ultra high frequency sound, beyond human AND dog ears capability to sense.

Our door is sized for three 12 lb dust mop Shih Tzus. Daughter's is sized for a 100 lb Mississippi Democrat (AKA, a Yellow Dog).

Donr

Once

by mtaylor - 2015-08-04 03:08:15

One time I had the alarm go off on me at the library, that was fun.

Donr

by Grateful Heart - 2015-08-04 03:08:51


Why not just ask #2 Daughter if you could use the front door instead of the doggie door?

Hmmm....maybe it's because you rate her as #2??

Robo....that's a simple fix in your case.

Grateful Heart

It's not so bad when we are ....

by donr - 2015-08-05 12:08:50

....at #2 Daughter's house - she has Big dogs. It's really tough at home - ever try to squeeze through an opening smaller than the average air conditioning duct? Usually when I'm half way through trying to get my shoulders through, one of them comes up & licks my nose.

Right now we are on an extended stay w/ #2 Daughter helping her get her own medical practice off the ground. Goal is to have her up & operating in another week - 2 weeks is more realistic.

Donr

You know you're wired when...

Bad hair days can be blamed on your device shorting out.

Member Quotes

This is my second Christmas with my pacemaker and I am so happy to be with my family.