Teen Blames TSA For Broken Insulin Pump

Your analogy is ap, phoebe.

 

I can understand this, like with the metal detectors and people with pacemakers. There's a chance that the magnetic field could disrupt the pacemaker so we don't let them come through the metal detector. Now, i've seen people with pacemakers come through the metal detector by accident, and nothing happened. So maybe newer ones aren't affected or something, but since there's a chance the policy is still no pacemakers through the metal detector. I get that you think it should be the same with pumps and scanners.

 

...if the manufacturer of their pump gives that directive.

There are apparently a few pumps on the market whose manufacturers have said, "Meh, it doesn't matter." Animas, on the other hand, has made it very clear that their pumps are not certified to go through WBI and remain unaffected so their patients should not go through WBI with the pump, or disconnect the pump and send it through the X-ray scanner.

I think the TSA would do better to make a strong effort to stop their employees from offering advice that contradicts the manufacturers' directives. And maybe hire a few people who can actually read and think.

 

The different information from the various manufactureres is why I suggested in an earlier post that it should not be a TSA function to ask what kind of pump a person is using. That would lead to even more confusion.

The safest rule is to not use WBI to screen people with pumps.

 

Aw, heck. If you want to go that route, the safest rule would be to disband the TSA and return to 9/10 security protocols at the checkpoint.

 

I'm have a query out requesting official TSA policy in regards to insulin pumps.

 

Not only if you want to go that route.

 

You're prepared for the multitude of different answers you're going to get, right?

1) The answer from the average blue-shirted dolt at the checkpoint.
2) The answer on the TSA's "official website."
3) The answer you'll get from any of the spokesholes that end up being quoted in the newspapers.
4) The answer that Boggy Boob will put on the TSA Blog as a "light-hearted" non-answer...

...et cetera.

 

or

I sent this to our procedures folks. I’ll get back with you as soon as I hear something.

 

Now you're just running though the posts spouting nonsensical answers. It's kind of amusing, really -- it appears we have a Smurfchen telling a Principal Engineer that he has no engineering credentials? That she, with no training in medicine, imaging or engineering, is better qualified to pronounce what is safe & not safe?

This exchange really epitomizes what goes on at the checkpoints and why TSA has earned all the negative publicity it is receiving.

I work with radar technology, too. The frequencies are up in the gigahertz range, but it's still broadcast radiation.

But keep going. What I enjoy most about letting TSA folks expound in here is how they eventually trip & fall all over themselves. I've yet to be disappointed.

 

There are have been a few isolated incidents of apparent interference. Below 10,000' there is less margin for error & recovery. However, even if this interference is disproved, it's unlikely that the restrictions will be lifted. Pilots have sterile cockpit rules below 10,000' -- no distractions & no idle chatter. Passengers should be paying attention to the flight crew in case an emergency arises -- not chatting on the phone or surfing the web.

 

I do agree. I hope you see the point of my analogy, which was somewhat dumb on purpose.

ETA: Also, I should add that I only begrudge the rule when I forgot that my emergency-only cell phone is turned on at the bottom of my bag, which is already wedged under the seat and we're starting to pull back by the time they announce to shut off cell phones. I know nobody's going to call, and I could just leave it on and nobody would know. But I dig my bag out and turn it off, because I recognize that maybe there's something I don't know about the issue.

 

I don't diagree but find it interesting that pilots are using iPads instead of charts.

 

And end our entertainment? Nah ....

I've only looked at the IP address on a small number of her posts, but none of them were from the DHS proxy. As far as I can see, she's posting on her dime, not ours.

Government employees have first amendment protections. My feeling is that any complaint would be an uphill battle, not likely to succeed.

If you want to save a copy of the thread for whatever reason, open each of the pages (now 10 total) and do a "Save As" complete web pages.

 

I'm willing to climb the hill.

 

Considering the scanners have not been tested at all or competently or on a regular basis, who knows how much radiation is being emitted by any specific scanner at any specific airport on any specific day. There might be a limit on the amount of radiation these insulin pumps can tolerate and because nobody knows on any specific day, with any specific scanner at any specific airport just how much radiation their insulin pump is being exposed to perhaps some have not been damaged and some have. Perhaps the manufacturers of these pumps think it isn't worth a crap shoot to the people who use them and therefore have recommended none of them get scanned. The day I take medical advice from a TSA agent is the day when pigs fly.

 

Insulin pumps cost several thousand dollars up to over $10k dollars. Why risk such an expensive and potentially life saving piece of equipment on a guess?

 

Any.

Because the idiot in question feels lazy that day.

 

Yes, please. And put the former employees on a chain gang. Or sell them to Africa/ME as slaves.

 

You think they'd take 'em?

There's always the "Soylent Green" solution, though...