Just curious. THere has been a lto of talk on this topic and how pumpers have been harassed but TSA due to an insulin pump.
When going through security, do you first delclare your pump, or just walk through and hope it doesn't set off the alarm? If it did set the alarm off, was the officer upset because you didn't declare it first?
Travelling for the first time on a pump this week, and don't know what to do.
Do you delclare it to them before you walk through the metal dectector and they have you walk through, or do you walk through and if it beeps - then explain?
Out of consideration for the security guys and gals, if I have a bag full of sharps (e.g. needles) I try to call that out to them if they’re going to search the bag. They have to stick their hands in the bags and some of them have expressed worry to me in the past, when they were surprised to find a bunch of needles in there.
If the sharps are on my person (e.g. my pocket or attached to me right now) I don’t really feel a need to call them out.
Usually I go through security with all the needles etc. in my pockets etc and they never ever notice or care.
Tim.
I always walk through without declaring it. My pumps have never set off the alarm, so i dont usually sweat it. If your worried, just get a note from the doctor explaining what it is, and that its a medical device that is necessary.
I used to not even mention it. This year a TSA lady noticed my pump in my pocket and asked me about it. They swabbed it all over with the explosion detector thingy they use.
Since then, I do declare it before crossing the metal detector. They only swab it once with the explosion detector thing and I am off. It won’t set off the alarm, though. Not with the traditional walk-through detectors. Now, with the ones where you stand up with your hands in the air and the thing spins around you, b/c it uses a different sensing mechanism, I believe it does set those off.
The article is good, and yes I always declare my pump etc before. I request a pat-down as well.
I certainly DON’T agree with the comment “if you are experiencing a low inform the TSA you need medical attention”. I informed the TSA inspector at Newark airport that I was not feeling well and she told me to sit down and just left me there…NOTHING…I had to search in my bag for emergency glucose and I WAS NEVER offered any help. I was low because of the lining up and waiting and walking around the airport to find the gates. I feel that having told her I was not feeling well…she should never have just left me sitting there…
I always go through with my OmniPod on my arm (clearly visible under my sleeve) and I’ve never been stopped, nor have I set off the alarm. I think TSA thinks it’s a giant nicotine patch or something.
That being said, I have also NEVER been stopped in the US for carrying 200+ syringes (back when I was on MDI) in my carry-on bag. Kinda scary if you think about it.
I travel every week and never declare it. If I set off the alarm then I tell them I have a pump and let them feel me up. It’s pretty rare for the alarm to go off.
My pump also doesn’t set off the alarms either. But, about 4-5 years ago, one of the TSA agents saw the tubing and asked me if it was a pump. I said yes, and he just asked me to show it ahead of time in the future. Nice guy, no extra screening, and I was actually pretty impressed that he noticed the tubing (only about 1 an inch showing between the bottom of my shirt and the pocket). So, for years, I always removed it from my pocket while walking through the detector and had not trouble, until…
Two months ago I took a trip from Boston to San Diego and San Francisco. Boston was fine (as it usually is) but in SD and SF I showed the pump and was given secondary screening (no alarm). It only took about 5-10 minutes in SD, but the guy in SF – while pleasant – took EVERY SINGLE ITEM out of my carryon and swabbed it and tested for explosives. Including the time I sat in the screening area waiting for him, that took 30-40 minutes.
I’m not sure what I’ll do the next time. Should I let one bad experience taint the whole? Despite many no-hassle experiences? Not sure.
But people should also be aware that airports like SF are now using the full-body scanners and in those you will probably have to declare it or you might end up worse off. You don’t get to see the scan, so I’m not sure if the pump or CGM will show up on it.
Yeah me too on Sunday to Miami. Have’nt flown since 2003.
Jennifer,
Declare everything first. I think if we declare the things we have, we lower the TSA officer’s anxieties.
“No surprises” should be our mottos.
That means not setting off their bells and whistles any more than necessary. TSAers are people, too. When their adrenalin is raised, think what happens to them! They get stressed. And it happens day in and day out. When people are stressed out, they act more rudely.
When they deal with cooperative people who declare everything, it helps them through their job, and they are able to follow their rules more consistently. Figure wanding is part of the routine.
I never walk through hoping something doesn’t set off an alarm.
I wear my pump underneath my clothing and don’t declare it. It has never set off an alarm. The only thing in my carry on that is of any interest is the food I bring with me, the yogurt is more than 3 oz. and I’ve been scolded for that. Otherwise I’ve never had an issue flying with my pump, or any of my supplies. I’d tell them I’m not going through any x-ray gig though, and why if they ask.
so far I’ve never had a problem…12 yrs…even flying from Tx to NYC during 911
several times. I have medic alert necklace & dr notes as standbys… good luck
Sometimes my pump sets off their alarm; sometimes it doesn’t. Sometimes I get the full-body search and wand; sometimes I don’t. It seems to be really inconsistent and depends on the airport you’re at. I had a pretty bad experience in Hartford recently - the TSA lady put some of my supplies through, before I could tell her not to - and now my glucose meter has lines through the screen that it didn’t previously have. If you want to read the full story of what happened, I blogged about it: http://textingmypancreas.blogspot.com/2010/06/isnt-that-what-nick-jonas-has.html
I show it to the TSA before walking across the detector. I also the letter from doctor’s office along with my boarding pass. This reduces anxiety for every one. I also keep a printout from the TSA website that specifically talks about the agency’s policy on carrying Diabetic supplies.
In the event there is an issue. I request for a second opinion from a superior or his/her colleague or a Doctor at the airport [a lot of airports do have a doctor for emergencies].
I do not declare the supplies i have in a baggage.
I always declare it and I have never had a problem (and I have flown a lot). I just show them the pump – they always know what it is.
Usually it doesn’t set off the alarm and they just let me through. When it does set off the alarm, they pat me down like they do anyone else. Sometimes they swab it (and the case) even if it doesn’t set off the alarm.
Last time I traveled, I set off the alarm. The officer asked me if it usually does. I said no. She sent me back to try again and told me to put it in my front pocket. I tried it and it worked (no alarm!). So I went on my way. That was the most helpful officer 
I have heard that the closer it is to the center of the body, the less likely you are to set off the alarm, but it depends on the pump. I see you use the MM pump (me too) – that shouldn’t set it off! I recommend the front pocket!
I don’t mention my supplies either, unless they select my bag to be searched. I only mention the pump to the person who is watching the metal detector and I only mention it to the others if they tell me to remove it and put it on the belt.
I traveled for the first time by air today and security was super nice. The only thing they had to do is test my yogurt and water bottle for explosives. They didn’t blink when I told them I had insulin with me. I guess it was a lucky first time…? I also did my shot in my seat. Almost as fun as knitting on the bus when it’s jumping potholes. (just kidding, no turbulence at that moment)
Well- I just went through security at JFK, declared my supplies and juice with ice packs in the insulin cooler, no problem. The porter told me to take the “cell phone” out of my pocket and put it into the bin so I told him what it was an insulin pump, he gave a weird look at me and the TSA guy overheard and said “no, she can’t take it off.” Score one for TSA. Prior to walking through the metal detector, I decided to take it out of my pocket to declare to the officer, and he waved me right through, no alarms. I think this was the easiset time going through security, EVER. And I even travel with a CPAP machine - no issues at all this time, no swabbing, nothing. Whew. Thanks for all of your input. Hopefully the trip back home will be as easy.