My son is type 1 and has been on the Animas Ping since April. We just flew last week. The pump cannot go through the x-ray machine, so my son wore it through the metal detector which, of course, detected the pump. That triggered a pat-down. Going home, we told the TSA agent what the pump was with the intent of avoiding another pat down. That did not work either. He still had to walk through the metal detector. It still went off and he still got the pat-down treatment.
I’m all for airport security, but I’d like to find a way to avoid the pat-down every time my son flies. Does anyone out there have a suggestion? Is there a type 1 TSA agent out there that can help?
I use minimed and I’ve never had to be patted down- even on international flights. I usually just unclip my pump and hold it out so that they can see it. It doesn’t trigger an alarm so I wonder if there is something in the ping that makes the alarm go off? Sometimes I even suspend the pump and take it off so that they can see (I’ve even lifted up my shirt so that they can see the pump site on my belly). I usually do all of that for international flights- I never have problems domestically. I don’t think I answered your question- I guess I would call the pump company. Maybe there is a piece of paper or something you can carry (like a medical ID card that says this is a pump)? I think the only reason they are patting him down is because the metal detector goes off and even though you are saying “guys, it’s just my kid’s pump”, airport security is always extra cautious. Which makes me wonder why the ping goes off but my pump doesn’t?
I’ve worn the MM in the past and use the Ping now. I’ve had the same problem with my pump. I’m thinking that the metal belt clip sets the metal detector off.
for the animas ping there is nothing you can do. i’ve been on it since june and have flown 5 times since then. you always have to walk through the metal detectors, and because of something in the pump (the blue tooth to the onetouch i think) it will always set them off. then you will be patted down and the pump swabbed for explosives. the only exception to this is if the airport has a secondary detector that blows air at you. then you get that instead of the pat down.
so far all the tsa experiences have been good, just longer than usual. they all knew what it was, but it does not exempt you from all the screening.
I also wear my pump out…and show them before they ask or I go through the metal detector…AZ/Pheonix airport has the new body scanning thing…so, they can see everything. I also carry a letter from my doc on letterhead. My dad has a knee replacement and I know they issued him a laminated card w/ serial numbers and all to show at airports, etc…maybe the pump companies should do the same?! Take care and hope it is better next time:)
I haven’t flown with my pump yet (first time will be this September), but I have set off metal detectors at airports plenty of times and none of them led to the pat down. I always got the wand. I wonder why.
why can’t the pump go through x-ray? I’ve sent mine through.
There’s no way to avoid the metal detector, period. If i don’t take the pump off and put it in the tray I do what Patricia does and show them the pump and tell them what it is. Sometimes you get a pat down, sometimes you don’t. Sometimes you get swabbed, sometimes you don’t. Depends on the agents or the airport. They may have learned about insulin pumps, but not everyone has seen one.
It’s just something you’re son will have to deal with. What does it cost? A minute? After all, anyone could attach something to their body and claim it was an insulin pump. Heck, anyone could attach a real insulin pump to their body and claim they were using insulin when, in fact, they’re carrying something else.
If you request to be hand wanded because of wearing a pump(you have to say it is an insulin pump) they are supposed to be trained to do that. And you have to request it before stepping through the big metal detector. When TSA first started they were not trained very well, so I have been in the habit of removing my pump putting in my bag then reattaching after screening. I have used this method with Animas IR1000, and the Cozmo. I have yet to be questioned at all about it.
I would ask Animas what in their pump can’t go through the x-ray. My understanding is that there is more potential damage from the metal detector. But I have no solid information to back that up.
we just travelled for the first time with my daughter’s ping. It sets off the detector every time and there was no way around a pat down. It wasn’t really a big deal but we just made sure that Abbie knew ahead of time that she was going to have to do this extra step. With one exception all of the agents were really nice and explained to Abbie what they were doing so she was comfortable. Agent in DC actually let her ‘help’ with the swab test by showing Abbie how to read the results. One idiot agent did try to have Abbie walk into the screening area without me (excuse me, but I"m not sending my six year off alone!) but the supervisor stepped in pretty quickly and sorted it out.
its kinda stupid that you explained the pump and everything and they didnt listen…what if you showed them a note from an endo or your sons medic alert? (if he wears a medic alert) and are we allowed to take off our pumps when we go through metal detectors?
hope you figure this out!
b
whats blowing air at you going to do? lol just curious. ive only flown once and that was in my neighbors 6 seater plane so i didnt go through anything…
Be sure to remove any belt clip or pump case with metal.
I also got a recommendation to have the pump near the center of the body. It is (supposedly) less likely to set off the alarm there. So I usually show them my pump, then tuck it into my pants either in the back near the spine or in front of my belly button.
But I have also gotten a pat down even when I didn’t set the metal detector off. I usually travel with my infusion set on my abdomen so that I can show it to them. It usually speeds up the process because they feel sad when they see a tube going into me
My Cosmo never set the alarm off. My Minimed sometimes does. So I guess it does vary from pump to pump.
I was also told that the pump should not go through the x-ray.
When I go through airport security, which is around 2 times each week, I do a small bolus, remove my pump, put it in a large zip-lock bag along with the tubing, and ask for a hand inspection/screening of the pump. I also keep a printed copy of the TSA guidelines with me. This has only been rejected one time, and that was by a brand new TSA employee. I did not have the printed guidelines with me that time. I always do now.
I use a minimed the only problem I have ever had was flying to the UK via Bangkok. At Bangkok I got off the plane to walk around the airport and stretch my legs, while the plane was refuelling. But when it came to reboard the guy checking everyone on insisted that I detach my pump and let it go though the x-ray machine when I said I would not take it off in case he, the machine or the person at the other end mishandled it and broke it, he became very angry. It was only after a fellow passenger and his supervisor supported me did he let me go through to the plane. His supervisor did say pumps are still not that well known about and in future I should tell them and carry it in my hand. I fully support airport security but don’t understand why they don’t teach the security personal about things like insulin pumps.
I have flow many times since and now always say I have an insulin pump and carry it through security checks.
I had to fly to San Diego last August and I had no problems going through security at Sacramento’s airport. When I got to the gate, I took my pump out of my pocket, held it in my hand along with all my pump supplies and insulin in a Ziploc baggie and went right through. I even unzipped and opened my meter case and sent it through the x-ray machine. Since there were hardly anyone in line behind me, one of the guards did ask to see the meter and sent it through the machine a couple of times to have his follow officers learn what they look like and how to identify them for future reference. I thought it was kind of neat to be a part of a training exercise for them. They also examined my pump and supplies so that they would also be aware of what to look for in the future. I did have a note from my doctor to explain what the pump was, just in case and I also wore my biggest medical ID bracelet. Fortunately, I didn’t have anything that set the metal detector off, so it was breeze to go through. I don’t really think there’s anything you can do to get around having a pat down if you set the detectors off going through. I know it’s a bit of a pain, but now that you know it’s going to happen, it’s something that you can plan for and expect. They’re just doing what they can to make sure that eveyone is safe. I always make sure that I"m at least two and half to three hours early just to ensure that I have time to go through security should there be an issue with my pump. I also find too that if you stay calm, smile and are friendly and very cooperative about the security check, they tend to cut you a bit more slack and will do what they can to make sure you get through the checkpoint as easily as possible. Remember, you will catch more flies with honey than you will with vinegar.
I’ve flown from Hartford CT to Tampa FL (in February) and from New York to San Diego, CA (in May) and am planning on doing New York to FL in August. I had no issues with going through the medical detectors in any of the airports.
There is a medical detector for “normal” people, but there is a separate line that people with “medical” issues need to go through. Which means that, yes, I have to separate from my fiance when going through the security check points so that I can go through the medical metal detector.
The medical metal detector has many sensors and takes about a minute to scan your whole body. Then, it’ll do a sudden burst of air (not painful) and if the light is green, you’re good to go!
I don’t know if they have these at every airport, but in the four that I’ve been in the past six months, I’ve had no issues.
My son was patted down once. Since then we take it off, and it goes through with our carry-ons. We’ve flown often in the past 4 years that we’ve had it and the x-ray does not damage it.
