Pacemaker travel question

[Jmc43]

I had a pacemaker implanted last November, and everything seems to be going fine. It has eliminated low H/R issues/pauses and helped minimize Afib episodes.

However, I am set for my first international trip, leaving tomorrow for a week in Amsterdam. So, a question about travel: How do you handle the security systems at airports? I have the Medtronic card which describes the Pacemaker and so on…do I show this before going through security so I don’t go through the metal detectors? Or is that not a problem any more?

While I can check the Medtronic website, I appreciate the different kinds of advice one gets on this board.

Is there anything else I should be aware of when traveling?

[BobD Volunteer]

Do not go through any detectors and show security your PM card . This should have been explained to you.

[Jmc43 in reply to BobD]

Thx BobD, and yes it was explained, but there was also something about certain machines being ok to go through, others not. So I was just checking to see what experiences people had.

[Hylda2 in reply to Jmc43]

We flew to Tenerife in February. Just showed them card either end. Having learned Spanish for pacemaker. Only thing was we both have a pacemaker, must have looked dodgy because we were then directed for a drugs swab!! 🤣

[Jmc43 in reply to Hylda2]

I am sure I look dodgy even without the pacemaker…😂😳.

[DawnTX]

if you have the Medtronic card, you should have directions along with it as far as things to avoid and telling them to use the hand scan, and tell them not to hover over your pacemaker for any length of time. I have medtronic also and was very well educated on things as well as receiving a letter with my card

[Rosemaryb1349]

My senior pacemaker Dept head said that the hand held scanners can do far more damage than the screens you walk through. The air scanners are OK though, that's the glass circular cabinets that you stand inside of with your arms elevated and a device scans your entire body. It's done in seconds and poses no problems but not all airports have them. It's a hand pat down usually at my home airport just hold your pacemaker card aloft as you approach security and they should direct you. Rosie

[Barb1]

I travelled extensively through America, Chile, Peru in the summer. Never showed my PM card. It seems that the International sign is pointing and tapping at the site. Aah, they say!

[quanglewangle]

like Barb 1 l found that signalling a PM by holding the right hand over the PM area is universally understood and l have never had to display the card.

[Glenn69]

yes I travel often all over the world and tapping the heart seems to work everywhere but that’s where consistency stops - had to show pm card just once after an Aussie screamed at me I should ALWAYS show my card. What’s not consistent is whether you have to take off your footwear 80% of the time you do )a real pain as there’s nowhere to it down) this is then sometimes tested I think it’s explosives not drugs. If you don’t take off your shoes they may examine you around your waistband and pat down your legs and sometimes test your waistband. My experience is that there is only one rule expect the unexpected

[Jmc43]

thx all, very helpful responses. I see the experiences can vary depending upon the airport, which is similar to the variety in all things around security at airports. I have the card ready and am better prepared to be ready for different conditions. Hadn’t thought of tapping the pacemaker location as well as using the card, so that will be helpful.

[chesson]

I have had a PM for almost 10 years. My original patient "card* from Harefield Hospital was just a piece of paper, that after years in my wallet, has become illegible and not at all official looking. However I have never been asked to produce it after countless airport controls. In general, when arriving at the detector frame after the bags have gone through x-ray, I catch the eye of one of the agents looking after it and make a beating motion with my hand over my heart. They seem to universally understand the gesture and tell me to stand aside while they grab a detector wand to check for metals after a very through pat-down. Almost always they make you remove your shoes and put them through the x-ray machine, so slip-ons will facilitate this stage of the body search. Initially I was ready to show them the PM bump and scar if they doubted me, but have never had to. (Obviously this would be more difficult for a woman). The more recent millimeter wave body scanners are supposed to be PM compatible and have never caused me any issues. As an aside, I also have a hip implant, so a full body pat-down and" wanding" is par for the course, PM or no PM 😜

[Hylda2]

Bournemouth are very good. They tell you to cover your pm with your hand while they wave the wand xx

[Eastwick]

I agree with the hand over heart signal has worked for me for 9 years!