Pat downs because of CPAP machines

[Goofproof]

I suppose you don't have to worry about having your breasts touched because your CPAC tested positively.

It is absolutely necessary to have breasts touched if a woman tests positive for explosives. That is the world we live in. The TSA MUST make the flight as safe as possible.

Nothing you anyone can do will make you safe against terrorists. The TSA and Homeland Security are there to make you feel safer, if you do, you don't have a clue on what's going on.

Where terrorists win is by our loss of personal freedom, it which they are currently doing. To beat any foe, you must become them, then pay them back 1,000 to 1, a eye for a eye only leaves everyone blind.

Some people have to learn, the hard way, pulling on the Tigers Tail is a poor idea. Jim

We as a country have become too civil to do what is needed.

[kteague]

Hey, the woman comes on here sharing her experience regarding the cpap machine testing positive and resulting in a pat down, which she found offensive, and the thread takes a nose dive. While it wouldn't bother me, I can respect her feeling violated. She later expressed her view of security protocol, and we all know anything even remotely resembling a political opinion around here nearly starts WWIII. I don't care about the tit for tat (believe it or not, that expression was not purposed, but I like it so I'll leave it) of the validity of every comment, I'm just saying sometimes the atmosphere on here can get almost predatory.

Linda, you've gotten some suggestions for future travel and read others' experiences, so hopefully you'll be able to avoid a repeat of that pat down in future travels.

[SleepingUgly]

I don't care about the tit for tat (believe it or not, that expression was not purposed, but I like it so I'll leave it)

Tit for pat, you mean.

[kteague]

Good one, SU!

[Goofproof]

I suppose you don't have to worry about having your breasts touched because your CPAC tested positively.

It is absolutely necessary to have breasts touched if a woman tests positive for explosives. That is the world we live in. The TSA MUST make the flight as safe as possible.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

You are so right. There has been such a rash of elderly female Catholic terrorists trying to blow up planes, lately. The truth is that giving up our liberty to not have our private parts touched by strangers is not making us safer. TSA is looking at things when they should be looking at people.

What scares me is all the implants filled with nitroglycerine, the TSA should get hazard pay for patting those down. I've never thought of dating as dangerous but now I may have to reconsider. Jim

[Patrick A]

On the way to Tennessee for the 4th of July, I was subjected to a pat down because my CPAP machine tested positive. That consisted of the female agent touching me all over my body with gloves. Then she took the gloves to be tested. Since her gloves didn't test positive, they let me fly, but because my husband and I complained about all the touching of my breasts, we had to visit with other officials of airport security. One of the officers informed us that we don't have to fly.
Now, I am not sure what to do about the trip back home. I was planning to just check it and take the risk that it could be damaged or lost. I thought I'd wrap it in bubble wrap and put it inside a suit case. I don't know what I'd do if the luggage got lost or if it was stolen. I would not be able to sleep without it.....at least not for very long.
I feel violated when I have to stand with my arms out while a woman touches my breasts. it's embarrassing to do that in public with everyone watching, but going to a private room with a stranger who is going to touch my breasts seems creepy. As much as I hate having it done in public, going to a secluded room seems worse.

Well at least they tried to respect your privacy. You should feel violated. Some of these TSA Officer have the finesse of a bull in a china closet. A lot of them are people that should never have been hired by the US Govt. I think that they have out sourced those jobs...... (the TSA Officers)

[jdm2857]

I happened to have watched a two-hour PBS documentary about the history of the World Trade Center yesterday. Watching the detailed film taken on September 11, 2001 (including parts that most TV stations edited out) might change your view about your inconvenience.

Watching humans falling 1200 feet to the sidewalk can do that.

[timbalionguy]

Security will never bee good enough to satisfy the TSA. They get their jollies out of inconveniencing you.

I have been patted down several times. Hated it intensely, especially when the agent stuck his hand inside my pants. I will do nearly anything to avoid a pat-down.

The next thing coming is these whole body scanners. There are two kinds. One uses microwave energy, which is basically harmless. The other uses X-rays, which is IONIZING RADIATION. It would take a lot more microwave energy than they use for the scanner to harm you in any way, Any amount of ionizing radiation has the potential give you cancer. I am leaning in the direction of having a pat-down vs being needlessly exposed to X-rays.

In any case, I fly much less now that I have to drag a CPAP machine everywhere.

The TSA does not make me feel safer! This violation of our privacy must stop before we become a police state.

[NEW YORKER]

I can understand her frustration by being patted down but living in N.Y. and witnessing what happened at the W.T.C. , I say a pat down is a little price to pay. Here in N.Y. we are constantly having our privacy invaded by the police wanting to look in our back packs on the subway or a random stop by the police if you are driving in the city. So while I feel empathy for this woman, I feel she needs to put her pride aside or stop flying. She should come to N.Y. where it all happened, see the destruction it caused and then maybe she will tolerate a pat down. She should just be happy they did'nt want to do a cavity search!

[Jaylee]

Tit for pat, you mean.

[Patrick A]

Security will never bee good enough to satisfy the TSA. They get their jollies out of inconveniencing you.

I have been patted down several times. Hated it intensely, especially when the agent stuck his hand inside my pants. I will do nearly anything to avoid a pat-down.

The next thing coming is these whole body scanners. There are two kinds. One uses microwave energy, which is basically harmless. The other uses X-rays, which is IONIZING RADIATION. It would take a lot more microwave energy than they use for the scanner to harm you in any way, Any amount of ionizing radiation has the potential give you cancer. I am leaning in the direction of having a pat-down vs being needlessly exposed to X-rays.

In any case, I fly much less now that I have to drag a CPAP machine everywhere.

The TSA does not make me feel safer! This violation of our privacy must stop before we become a police state.

I agree with this completely. My wife sews...she likes to tae sewing stuff with her to keep herself busy....but thanks to the "TSA" she can no longer do that. Also forget about taking a cup of coffee from Sixbucks Coffee (pun intended) you can't even get that past the gate. Even when you are going to meet some one at the airport.

[Sharon1225]

I travel 200 days a year and TSA agents really is the worst part of traveling. They are disrespectful and arrogant but its now part of travel. I recommend you DO NOT check your machine breakage and loss is highly possible. Its a terrible hassle to go through airport security but much more of a hassle to go without sleep. Good luck

>>wdf858>

Wdf858,

I was going to check the entire cpac, machine, humidifier, hose, etc. Then I got concerned about it breaking. Right now I have the humidifier packed in the checked bag. I have clothes on the bottom and clothe on the top and it's inside the soft bag it comes in. My concern is that if something heavy set on it, it might crack. What do you think?

My husband travels about as much as you do. He doesn't have trouble with TSA, but he doesn't have a machine. My daughter suggested getting 2 machines, one for home and one for travel. If I could buy an old machine without a humidifier, I might be able to either ship it or check it. What do you think?

[bearded_two]

I fail to see the difference between "elderly female Catholic terrorists" and any other terrorists or any age, sex, or religion. There have been Christian terrorists and and Muslin terrorists. Both males and females have been terrorists. You may be right about elderly; it does seem that most terrorists are young.

BTW, I am gay, so being Catholic or Muslim doesn't get any sympathy from me -- they are both bigoted against gay people.

[Patrick A]

I travel 200 days a year and TSA agents really is the worst part of traveling. They are disrespectful and arrogant but its now part of travel. I recommend you DO NOT check your machine breakage and loss is highly possible. Its a terrible hassle to go through airport security but much more of a hassle to go without sleep. Good luck

>>wdf858>

Wdf858,

I was going to check the entire cpac, machine, humidifier, hose, etc. Then I got concerned about it breaking. Right now I have the humidifier packed in the checked bag. I have clothes on the bottom and clothe on the top and it's inside the soft bag it comes in. My concern is that if something heavy set on it, it might crack. What do you think?

My husband travels about as much as you do. He doesn't have trouble with TSA, but he doesn't have a machine. My daughter suggested getting 2 machines, one for home and one for travel. If I could buy an old machine without a humidifier, I might be able to either ship it or check it. What do you think?

Sharon
Do not pack your humidifier in your check in luggage. Carry it with you. No matter how well you pack it they will find away to break it. Remember the old Samsonite commericals?
As for getting a second machine, when my wife and I travel I have two machines, two masks, two hoses, and two cords and extension cords. I know a little over kill. But I will not have what happened to me last October again, in the middle of the night my machine took a dump and quit. No spare. Had to go home we were dry camping in the mountains about 2 hours from home. What a way to ruin a trip.

[cobra4x4]

Having a 2nd machine for travel purposes is a great idea, I plan on keeping my current machine for that exact reason as well as its always good to have a backup once I get a new one later this year.

Just make sure that if you get a used machine that you clean it and swab the outlet with rubbing alchohol.