Women's discussion

Nov 18 2010 12:57 PM

With all the flap about airport scanners on the news lately, I became curious. What can these things really see? After surfing the net to find out, I was horrified at what I found! In order to confirm what I found, I called an old college buddy of my husband's, who happens to be head of security at a medium-size airport here in th U.S. and drilled him with questions. This is what he told me.
He said to forget about the old scanners of a few years ago. They have new enhanced versions that will be coming out soon. These (like the old ones) can see through clothing as well, but cannot see through any kind of metal, leather, plastic, elastic material, or ceremac-type material. If a normal person goes through it, it will display him or her in all their naked glory, right down to the most private parts of their body. It can tell what style of underwear he or she prefers, as it will display the elastic waist and leg bands. It will clearly outline any prosthetic device such as artificial limbs etc. If a woman is using a period pad it would show up (in that region of her body) as a white patch. Incontinence devices such as ostomy bags, urinary collection bags worn on the leg, adult diapers or pads, or rubber or plastic pants would also show up clearly on the scanner. Should such devices be detected, that person might have to subject themselves to a complete strip-search which would require them to totally undress the suspicious area for examination. A person can request a pat-down search if they don't want the scanner, but that too, can get somewhat invasive. Enough said!
Perhaps many of you think I'm too sensitive or just plain crazy, when I say that what my body ( and all it's parts) looks like as well as what style of underwear I prefer are strictly my own business! I've gone to great lengths to keep my body and my incontinence a very private matter. I don't want to be blown out of the sky by some crazed kook any more than anybody else, but I draw the line at what I just explained above. I welcome any comments both pro and con, but nothing will change my mind on this. It's the grossest invasion of privacy I can think of!

Beth

Jan 18 2011 11:26 PM

I totally agree with you Beth. From a mans point of view, I would not go through a scanner, not would I agree to a strip search due to being incontinent. When I do travel, I use the external catheter system with a legbag, as I have Urge incon, and when it hits, I have very minimal time to get to a bathroom, and it is nothing I want to expose to a stranger for the benefit of getting on an airplane to fly somewhere. I do NOT need to fly anywhere that badly! I have not flown anywhere for 15+ years, and the last time I did I still had bladder control, so a device or diaper was not a factor, neither were the security issues of today. Now it is a different story, so I guess I will be driving anywhere I want to go within North America, no plans for any travel anywhere else so it really is not a factor to me. If I had to fly frequently for my job or what have you, it would be a serious problem for sure... Puffy

Jan 21 2011 11:58 AM

I fly all the time due to business and I can honstly say that I have NEVER had any issues. I just quietly let the security officer know that I have a medical condition that requires me to use disposable underwear. As soon as you mention that it seems as if they are the ones that get embarrassed, and in my experiences they rush me through.

Personally, if they need to scan or search me to keep everybody safe, it still beats the train or bus.

My 2 cents...

Jan 22 2011 10:00 AM

I've often had to fly one-way over the past few years which always raises eyebrows of TSA, and usually triggers a search. Although annoying, I've never experienced any rudeness and little embarrassment from the TSA employees. I have more stress over whether I'll be able to take my knitting along.

Jane

Mar 03 2011 04:53 PM

What bothers me that those people that do the scanning have no social training. They think they are the cat's meoaw and treat people without respect. They should be in the passengers place!

Aug 30 2011 05:37 AM

Honesty, I am normally not ashamed about my incontinence, nor do I really get embarrassed. However, this flying thing could be a problem for me. I do like to travel, and I am supposed to fly a couple of places in the near future.

The strip search is what scares me the most. Being thatI am blind, I have resolved that I will never fly alone, since the possibility of a strip search is a lot more likely than it used to be. Not that blindness is ever a factor that would ever stop my independence. It never has gotten in my way. I just want someone I know to be with me, should such a search ever occur, since I am unable to see what the TSA officer would look like, should he ever try something sick. I will demand that my friend or loved one go with me when the search take place, or I just forfeit my trip. With me, it is really that serious!!!!

Dec 18 2011 02:37 PM

I'm not crazy about all the security at the airports, but it is a necessary evil that I put up with, and in reality it is no big deal.

First of all, we are all humans....we have all the same parts and I can't imagine how boring it must be for these poor TSA agents to see over and over again...let alone complaining passengers griping about not wanting to be touched or scanned. Its a body.....nothing more....

I fly a LOT (have Platinum elite status on multiple airlines!). I wear full tape on diapers, and on long flights-usually THICKLY padded diapers. By thick I mean an Attends Brief with a Moliform Super pad inside it. The worst I've run into thus far is the following:

I was stopped after the full body scanner and told they needed to ask me some questions. I was escorted off to a private room where two agents (of my Gender) asked me if I had anything under my jeans. I told them I am incontinent and was wearing a diaper. The agent said "Ok, I'll just need to confirm that, please undo the top of your jeans and show me the top of it" I did that, and they were satisfied. Was it a little embarassing, yes. Was it Horrible, Awful, terrible....No!

Will this stop or prevent me from flying...No.
Is there any way around this? No.

Imagine if a terrorist puts on a diaper filled with a highly flamable or toxic solution...do you want him on the plane with you? I don't! This is why I don't go through the scanners with a wet diaper-if you do, you risk having to change your diaper in their private screening room.

Also, I think diapers with tape landing panels show up more on their scanners, so if you are hoping to get through with less of an issue, either change into a small pad for the time it takes you to get through security or at the very least wear the thinnest (and dry) protection you can.

Lighten up everyone....we are all human, all have bladders, urethras, kidneys, bowels, rectums etc....and some work better than others. TSA knows this and isn't in the game of trying to embarass you, but rather keep you safe. I think one prior post had it right...they are more embarassed than we are I think!

Mitch.