[Flagdu] Airport Screening Information FromTSA-Cares

[Patricia A. Lipovsky]

FYI:

Please feel free to circulate--

General Information On Airport Screening For Guide Dog Handlers, Provided By 
TSA-Cares:

If a passenger has a service dog due to a disability or medical condition, 
both the passenger and the dog will be screened. The passenger should inform 
a security officer that the dog is a service animal and not a pet and we 
recommend that the passenger have documentation or that the dog wear gear (a 
harness, vest, etc.) to indicate that it is a service animal.

Passengers are expected to maintain control of their animals by holding onto 
the leash throughout the screening process and they should not be separated 
from their dogs by TSA personnel.

Passengers with service dogs will be screened either by a metal detector or 
thorough pat-down. If the passenger and service animal are screened by a 
metal detector, they can proceed one of three ways:

.        The passenger can walk through first with the dog following behind 
on its leash.

.        The dog can walk through first on its leash with the passenger 
following behind.

.        The passenger and dog can walk through at the same time.

If the passenger and the dog walk through at the same time and the metal 
detector alarms, both the passenger and dog are subject to additional 
screening, including a thorough pat-down.  If the passenger and dog walk 
through separately, only the party that alarms the metal detector will 
receive additional screening. It is very important that the passenger not 
make contact with the dog (other than holding the leash) until the dog has 
been cleared and inspected by an officer.

If a pat-down is required in order to complete screening:

.        The pat-down should be conducted by an officer of the same gender. 
Sometimes, passengers must wait for an officer of the same gender to become 
available.

.        The passenger can request a private screening at any time and a 
private screening should be offered when the officer must pat-down sensitive 
areas. During a private screening, another TSA employee will also be present 
and the passenger may be accompanied by a companion of his or her choosing.

.        A passenger may ask for a chair if he or she needs to sit down.

.        The passenger should inform an officer of any difficulty raising 
his or her arms, remaining in the position required for a pat-down, or any 
areas of the body that are painful when touched.

.        A passenger should not be asked to remove or lift any article of 
clothing to reveal a sensitive body area.

Passengers wearing external medical devices - such as
insulin pumps and ostomies - can be screened without removing or
disconnecting them.  However, it is important for passengers to identify
the presence of such a device and its location before screening begins
to help both the passenger and TSA personnel ensure that the screening
goes smoothly.

In addition to the pat-down, passengers who need to bring animals through a 
security screening checkpoint may now experience additional screening, which 
could include testing the passenger's hands for traces of explosives.  If 
explosive material is detected, the passenger will have to undergo 
additional screening.  For more information about explosive trace detection, 
you can visit:  
http://www.tsa.gov/approach/tech/etd.shtm

Regardless of how the passenger and dog proceed through metal detector, the 
dog will receive additional screening. The officer will physically inspect 
the dog and the dog's belongings (collar, harness, leash, backpack, vest, 
etc.) in order to resolve the alarm. Although the dog's harness will not be 
removed, it and other items that he or she may be carrying such as a 
backpack are subject to screening.

If a passenger leaves the secure side of the airport to relieve his or her 
dog, the passenger and dog will need to undergo the screening process again. 
When he or she returns to the security checkpoint, he or she can ask to move 
to the front of the screening line.

Medication for service animals is permitted through security checkpoints 
once it has undergone X-ray or visual inspection screening. All liquids, 
gels, or aerosols that exceed 3.4 ounces will  receive additional screening. 
Passengers should tell an officer in advance if there are medically 
necessary liquids for the service dog that need to be screened, and these 
should be separated from other items in the passenger's carry-on.

A companion, assistant, or family member may accompany a passenger to assist 
him or her during any private or public screening. After providing this 
assistance, the companion, assistant, or family member will need to be 
rescreened. The passenger should inform the officer of his or her need for 
assistance before the screening process begins.

If a passenger has concerns about his or her screening, he or she should ask 
to speak with a supervisor while at the checkpoint.  Passengers also can 
report concerns by contacting TSA's Disability and Multicultural Division at
TSA.ODPO at tsa.dhs.gov
<TSA.ODPO at tsa.dhs.gov>
 or:

Transportation Security Administration
Disability and Multicultural Division
601 South 12th Street
Arlington, VA  20598

Please note that the information about explosives trace detection for 
passengers with animals does not apply exclusively to service animals or 
even exclusively to dogs -- it applies to any passenger with any kind of 
animal.

Passengers with disabilities and medical conditions can call TSA
Cares before they fly to receive information about what to expect during
screening.  They can call toll free at 1-855-787-2227 The hours of
Monday through Friday 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. EST, excluding federal holidays.
Travelers who are deaf or hard of hearing can use a relay service to
contact TSA Cares or can e-mail 
TSA-ContactCenter at dhs.gov.

If you have any further question or need to file a comment/complaint, e-mail 
TSA.ODPO at tsa.dhs.gov

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And remember....
If you lack the courage to  start, you have already finished.