[Nfbc-info] FYI FW: Screening of Insulin Pumps

[Michael Hingson]

Hi,

I thought you might be interested in this.  We all have had many discussions
about TSA screenings.  While guide dogs and canes do not fit into the issue
raised here some of our folks may have attached medical devices and such
which should be addressed.


Best,


Mike Hingson

The Michael Hingson Group, INC.
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Michael Hingson, President
(415) 827-4084
info at michaelhingson.com
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-----Original Message-----
From: TSA.ODPO [mailto:TSA.ODPO at tsa.dhs.gov] 
Sent: Tuesday, January 31, 2012 1:08 PM
To: Buzzell, Jeremy
Subject: Screening of Insulin Pumps

Dear Colleagues:

You recently may have heard about a checkpoint at Los Angeles
International Airport (LAX) being closed because of a passenger's
insulin pump.  On January 27, a passenger wearing an insulin pump was
screened by imaging technology at LAX.  The passenger did not inform the
Transportation Security Officers that she was wearing an insulin pump
before screening began and the device was detected as an anomaly.
Additional screening is required when imaging technology detects an
anomaly of any kind, but the passenger left the security area before the
screening process was completed and the nature of the anomaly was
determined.  Once the passenger was located, she was cleared without
incident after officers identified the anomaly as an insulin pump.

As you know, 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.

If you are contacted by your constituents with questions about screening
of external medical devices, we encourage you to refer them to TSA
Cares.  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.

We hope this information is helpful.

TSA's Disability and Multicultural Division