Airport Security and Pumps?

I'm going on a school trip to New York in March and I haven't been on a plane since I've been diagnosed. I know what I can bring and everything but what should I do about my pump? Should I hand it to someone before I go in the metal detector then let them inspect it? Or should I not go through at all? I'm just nervous because I don't want to hold up my whole class...

The two times that my daughter went through airport security, she kept her pump on and they took her to t he back, insepcted the pump and swabbed it down for "explosvies."  All said and done, probably took an extra few minutes, but it wasn't that bad.  It shouldn't hold up your class unless the TSA agent you get is an utter imbecile with a giant chip on the shoulder.

From what I understand, the old metal detectors are fine, but the full body scanners are not a good idea. I wear my pump and tell the agent as I go through that I am wearing an insulin pump (but only if I set off the "beep" because sometimes I don't). They then swab it. I've been asked to remove it but I've refused saying it's an implanted medical device. I don't want someone else's dirty paws on my pump if I took it off and then reattached it. I usually get a pat down too, no big deal. As the other poster said, it takes a couple of extra minutes but is no big deal. They are used to this stuff.

Cora

hi.  I travel weekly and have had a pump for years.  the fastest most straight forward way through airport security is to put your pump in a carry-on bag and send it down the x-ray conveyor.  (on the odd chance they want to hand search I ask to remove my own pump from my bag)  then walk through the metal detector or full-body scanner.  I have never had a tsa agent ask me about sharps, my supplies, or liquids (insulin), however I also dont' travel with tons of stuff or cold packs, because I prefer to pack light and never really needed cold packs.

If you have gel/cold packs, just go through the family/medical line and tell them the story - medical equipment-insulin, etc.  you will get checked and swabbed but most likely not harassed.

many airport metal detectors are cranked up so high that the spring in the belt clip will set off the alarm.  I had a 25% beep rate at airports.  Once they put in the body scanners I just don't have the patience to explain everything over and over again - so I go through the scanner without my pump (and wallet, etc.)  

good luck I hope your trip is fun.

Thanks for all the great info, I'm way less nervous now that I know what basically happens :)

Anytime I've pointed pump out to security I get a full body pat down.  So I've learned to detach it and put it in the carry on bag.  Don't say anything to security unless asked about it.  

Same goes for syringes and other medical supplies.  If you don't mention them, agents won't notice and your time won't be wasted.

I read somewhere that the xrays can have adverse effects on the insulin. When I flew threw Logan Interna'l a few years ago, one of the TSA guys told me that I don't have to take it off. Now I just leave it on and go through the naked body imager and have them swab my pump for explosives (lol).

Just leave it on.  I have had diabetes for 29 years and my daughter so we have 2 pumps going through security!  I have flown to Europe and all over.  I never take it off or have been asked to.  It's an accident waiting to happen if you take it off with everyone else's stuff.  I always tell them I have a pump and insulin and juice.  I walk through the detector.  They usually wand me or make me touch the pump then swipe my hands and off I go, no hold up at all.  No worries, just tell them about the liquid, they really don't care much.  So many people have type 1 and type 2 diabetes now they are so used to seeing us.  Have fun!  Jewels~ shesugar.com

What happens if you go through the body scanner with the pump on? I didn't know it wasn't supposed to go there....oops :-/

nothing happens, except TSA will start asking questions because they want everyone to have "nothing on your person...nothing in your pockets".  since I visit TSA 2x a week for a very long time now - there's only so many times I want to explain what a pump is... have it swabbed.... handled, even looked at, etc. haha, maybe I have an issue with patients!  so that's the only reason I take it off for a security scan.

I've noticed if I hide the pump really well nobody stops me, when I announce I have a pump I get the pat down, the explosives swab, and the wand :-) I just read an article about the body scanner messing with the settings on the pump but I didn't notice anything with mine

I've noticed if I hide the pump really well nobody stops me, when I announce I have a pump I get the pat down, the explosives swab, and the wand :-) I just read an article about the body scanner messing with the settings on the pump but I didn't notice anything with mine

There's a bunch of posts here about what to do and what not to do when flying and everyone has had different experiences at different airports.

It comes down to one thing--you are diabetic and NEED to have your insulin pump on you. Do not remove it, do not put it in a carry on bag. Simply leave your pump on, go through the metal detector and if it goes off, simply tell the TSA that you are diabetic and have an insulin pump. Point out to them where it is located and if they do pull you off to the side (which I have experienced dozens of times), they will swab it and run it through their scanners and send you on your merry way.

It also helps to have a doctor's note stating that you are wearing an insulin pump and that it is a needed medical device.  It's not necessary to have a note, but just an extra idea if needed.