Travelling

[Wildstar1900]

I am going abroad in January and am worried about the airport scanners. Is it OK to use them?

[Lowerfield_no_more]

Is there a specific reason why you ask? Otherwise if they were considered 'unsafe' to use they would not be installed at airports across the world.

[AlfredV in reply to Lowerfield_no_more]

"If cigarettes weren't safe you wouldn't be able to buy them." And so on and so on.

[Lowerfield_no_more in reply to AlfredV]

It's about balancing risk vs. benefits. I didn't say scanners didn't carry a risk. I said they were not considered unsafe which is not the same as having no risk whatsoever. There is a risk from overexposure to X-rays but the benefits of having an occasional X ray outweigh the risks. Like taking medication where benefits have to be balanced against any side effects. The list goes on. As for smoking there are obviously known risks and if you hadn't noticed there are deterrents that have come into place over the years since the adverse health effects of smoking were identified, and progressively prohibition of various sorts. However given it's deep seated cultural roots and the obvious revenue it brings to governments it takes time to wean folks off it and readjust it's use, especially since in the main it's a personal choice whether you smoke or not, and people are very sensitive about restricting their freedoms.

[Foxes1 in reply to Lowerfield_no_more]

You are wrong. some scanners are magnetic which affect certain heart implants and built in defibrillators ,

[Lowerfield_no_more in reply to Foxes1]

Not 'wrong'. If you have a device affected by the scanner radiation you tell the operators. I assume you are instructed to do that if you wear a device. That covers a tiny proportion of people. For the rest of humanity they are considered 'safe' or they would not be used. And if those that have a device fitted didn't have one they would go through the scanner like the rest of us.

[Foxes1 in reply to Lowerfield_no_more]

If you want to be sarcastic and boardline trolling I suggest you do it on a site that people do not ask for medical advice from from people who have the same condition.

[Lowerfield_no_more in reply to Foxes1]

I have been regularly contributing to this site for over 3 years without significant adverse comment, and have tried throughout to be informative and helpful. You are the first to accuse me of trolling and sarcasm. Draw your your own conclusions on that.

[Foxes1 in reply to Lowerfield_no_more]

Read your posts on this subject and YOU draw your conclusions.Obviously replying on a topic you have no knowledge of and sitting at home bored.

[BTC1997 in reply to AlfredV]

Hardly a fair comparison; they don't put cigarette-style health warnings on airport scanners for one thing. And the newer 3D scanners use non-ionizing radiation, which has much lower energy than a mobile phone.

[Barre01 in reply to AlfredV]

Not required to smoke in order to fly.

[Foxes1 in reply to Lowerfield_no_more]

If you have a certain heart implant fitted you cannot use some airport scanners because they contain magnets which will effect your device .I have a cry+ defibrillator fitted and cannot go through some airports devices , Birmingham has just fitted a new non magnetic device ,but if your in sure they are used to people with devices traveling,show them your card and they will do a manual pay down.

Travelling back from Italy I told them about my device ,showed my card they manually searched my body and shoes with no problem.

[Botolph in reply to Foxes1]

Yes, Manchester too has a non-magnetic scanner although I needed a manual check when I returned from Tenerife as I have a pacemaker.

[Lezzers]

Hi Windstar

Your bio says you have a CRT-d so I guess that's why you're concerned about the scanners.

Generally if it's an older type of scanner when you tell security you have a device instead of going through the scanner they wave the wand thing over you, just make sure they don't hover it over the device. You will probably have to show them your device card though. If security insist you go through the scanner it is safe to do so but you should walk briskly through it without stopping. However most airports now have the newer scanners which are safe to use with any type of heart device. I hope that helps.

Enjoy your trip

[Mentdent]

There are lots of things to worry about when travelling but airport scanners aren’t one of them.

[Breesha in reply to Mentdent]

well they are if you have an implanted device , I never go through them , I have a CRD device which is sensitive to magnetics

[Mentdent in reply to Breesha]

I’ve got an artificial knee and a stent and they always ping the machine. I always get searched and I don’t care. These people are well aware of these things

[Lezzers in reply to Mentdent]

Hi Mentdent

With a heart device It's not a case of whether the machine will ping or not, its a case of the magnets can deactivate the device which can potentially be life threatening, hence the concern.

[Qualipop in reply to Mentdent]

Do stents set them off? Never heard of that. Knee is understandable.

[Dralex in reply to Qualipop]

no stents don’t, I have seven and

I worked in airport security for 5 years……

[Qualipop in reply to Dralex]

I thought that was odd

[melnoakes]

just tell the security folks, tap tap your heart, and they will advise you… and either turn off while you go through, say the new body scanners are fine or just scan you with a wand…. No probs at all, all is well 👍

[samui4611 in reply to melnoakes]

Exactly,just notify the staff,they will check ,and you can proceed,travelled to and fro,UK,to Thailand,for over twenty years, with a pacemaker,never had a problem. Tell the staff at the gates.

[Thaifan]

As someone else asked do you have a specific problem. I have a pacemaker and just tell them at security and I do not go through the scanners.

[Drawforaliving]

you will be fine. I have an ICD and I just keep my medical card in hand and ask if it is safe for me to use this scanner due to my device in the uk. They will pat you down instead if you can't go through. If you are worried about them not understanding on foreign soil, don't. I have simply flashed my scar site if anyone has seemed confused and they know instantly what you are getting at. Make sure you let anyone with one of the hand held wands know as they approach you not to get it too close to you. Don't worry go and enjoy yourself.

[Deejay62]

I have a CRT-D fitted, and the first thing I do is show the airport staff my card, in other countries I say device and point to the area. They decide if I am ok to go through the non magnetic scanner or they take out their wand and scan me, they might also fumble my hair. Then they let me go. To add to that sometimes I get through a lot quicker has I’m taken to one side alone to be checked.

[Thanksnhs]

Don't forget to take your card or like me lose it without having a copy. It took me months to get a replacement and when I was coming back from Spain and was trying to explain to them about my ICD by pointing and tapping it she started shouting at me that I should have proof, as soon as I got my replacement I went to the library and got a few copies in case I ever lost it again. Take care and have a fab holiday. Char