Airport x ray machine & cpap

[notsure1]

Can the x ray machine at the airport damage my resmed 9 cpap machine?
Should I ask for a hand inspection?

[Pugsy]

No, the x ray machine cannot damage the machine.
There is no need for manual inspection for that reason. They may or may not do a hand inspection but just because they might select you to do a manual inspection.
There is nothing in the cpap machine that can be harm by x rays.

[Suzjohnson]

Do you think it helps to have one of those tags that says Medical Equipment? I suppose if they are going to pick on you, you're doomed regardless.

Suz

[Pugsy]

Do you think it helps to have one of those tags that says Medical Equipment? I suppose if they are going to pick on you, you're doomed regardless.

I don't know that the tag would make any difference. Wouldn't hurt though. The manual inspection isn't really a big deal even to the machine. A little swabbing is all that is done. They don't mess with the machines nearly as much now as they used to. They are just so much more common now and the security people pretty much don't do more than a glance.
Details on the x ray machine are much clearer now...so easier to see if we hid a bomb in there...so things really go pretty smoothly.

Even the manual pat downs aren't that bad. Last summer to Vegas I had a cast on my arm...that got me swabbed not my machine. and a pat down.
Last Christmas trip back to Vegas...was one of the random special people selected for another pat down.
I go back next month. If I get another pat down I am seriously thinking of changing my hair color or something.

[MaxDarkside]

I merely put my ResMed S9 AutoSet on the x-ray conveyor in it's carry bag. I have a folder in the big pocket with a copy of my prescription in it. I'm guessing the TSA sees ResMed and other popular brands often enough they know what it is, it says ResMed on the outside of the bag. I haven't had a hand inspection yet. In International locations, both USA and foreign carriers, inspectors may be a bit more inquisitive, as they often hand-inspect each carry-on regardless of what it is.

[amos]

Recently the TSA agent in Atlanta took my S9 air compression unit out of the carrying case and rescreened it. They then returned it to the carrying case, zipped it back up, and handed it to me. They did this before I even got my shoes back on. I was quickly on my way to the gate.

Returning through Tulsa, the TSA agents did not do any extraodinary check. In fact I was amazed at how quick, efficient, and gracious everone at both airports were.

amos

[Suzjohnson]

Do you think it helps to have one of those tags that says Medical Equipment? I suppose if they are going to pick on you, you're doomed regardless.

I don't know that the tag would make any difference. Wouldn't hurt though. The manual inspection isn't really a big deal even to the machine. A little swabbing is all that is done. They don't mess with the machines nearly as much now as they used to. They are just so much more common now and the security people pretty much don't do more than a glance.
Details on the x ray machine are much clearer now...so easier to see if we hid a bomb in there...so things really go pretty smoothly.

Even the manual pat downs aren't that bad. Last summer to Vegas I had a cast on my arm...that got me swabbed not my machine. and a pat down.
Last Christmas trip back to Vegas...was one of the random special people selected for another pat down.
I go back next month. If I get another pat down I am seriously thinking of changing my hair color or something.

Las Vegas? I should come visit you. I'm only 2 hours away. Those pat downs are supposed to be random but I swear they aren't.

Suz

[swrinfla]

A word or two, from comments by frequent travelers in my sleep apnea support group.

1] If TSA insists on examining your device, be sure that you demand that the inspector put on fresh gloves! Who knows what/where their last look-see was?

2] And, insist that you put the device back into its carrier bag, because you should know how it goes (my S9 bag has clear pictures), while the TSA agent may not!

3] My last two flights, no agent even asked to see the device. Still, I advise taking it out of its carrier before sending it into the x-ray machine!

SWR

[jen4700]

Some take it out of the carry bag and some don't? If you plan to take it out can you put it in a large ziploc bag so it doesn't get nasty? I would rather not take it out of the bag at all. I guess it depends on who is on duty.

[MaxDarkside]

Some take it out of the carry bag and some don't? If you plan to take it out can you put it in a large ziploc bag so it doesn't get nasty? I would rather not take it out of the bag at all. I guess it depends on who is on duty.

I have more than 2.5 million miles in-the-seat on airlines. What happens in real life varies from place to place, officer to officer, moment to moment. If you don't want to take it out of its carry bag, don't. If they want it out, they'll tell you, or after the X-ray they might inspect it and may swab it to detect explosives. Don't get anxious, don't do anything unusual, be polite and just go with the flow.