Full Body X-Ray at airport? Are they mental?

[Ozzieshunni]

So, OH and I are traveling to California to see my family for Christmas and I've been hearing more and more about these new full body x-ray machines. EVERYTHING I have read so far says that they are unsafe for pregnant women (potential brain damage to the unborn fetus) and to young children! As embarassing as it is, opt for a pat down search if you are traveling and pregnant or have a young child. Better safe than sorry.

The TSA will not give any definate answer one way or the other on the safety for pregnant women, but this machine emits radiation ffs!!!! Common sense here!

 

[stephwiggy]

make sure u have a docs note with you conforming pregancy is may make it easier !!

 

[Ozzieshunni]

Oh I will be! I'm just shocked that no one has done any research on this before making people go through it! Any level of radiation is bad for ANYONE!

 

[LaLaBelle]

If you want to have fun with it, when they are doing the very invasive patdown, start crying hysterically. No one should be allowed to grope you and touch you so privately, might as well make them uncomfortable with it too.

 

[Ozzieshunni]

I should and then blame hormones....I think OH would go nuts. He's already pissed off about it and won't let me go through them, even if I wanted to! Not like OH is controlling or anything, it's just his baby too and he wants it safe no matter what!

 

[Chocoholic123]

Don't worry they won't try to force you through it. I had a full body X-ray when we went on our honeymoon 3 yes ago, they were testing out the new machine and being a woman the 1st question they asked me was are you or could you be pregnant so I presume they wouldn't have done it if I was. I agree though cant be good making people suffer radiation pregnant or not!

 

[Ozzieshunni]

The US is a little stricter than that.....I was reading that one woman after refusing because she was obviously pregnant was asked very intrusive questions about her baby because they thought her bump was fake. Sheesh....

 

[CandyApple19]

thats discusting!!! Grrrrrr defo refuse and do the hysterical crying if they start getting too personal with the groaping!

 

[tina3747]

I can't imagine them letting a pregnant woman have an x ray, they're so strict in the dentists, hospitals ect wouldn't think it would be any differnt in an airport. If your worried get a Docs note? To be honest the more security at airports the better it is in my opinion, have no objections to being searched if it stops a bomb getting on my plane...!

 

[beautiful_day]

OK so my worry is that I have to travel for work in a couple of weeks and I will be going through security with a colleague - I CANNOT tell him I am pregnant before the 12 week scan, I do not want work to know and he is not discreet - if he finds out he will tell everyone. What if they want to scan me? maybe I should pretend to be ill at the last minute and not go on the trip!

 

[VintageLace]

OK so my worry is that I have to travel for work in a couple of weeks and I will be going through security with a colleague - I CANNOT tell him I am pregnant before the 12 week scan, I do not want work to know and he is not discreet - if he finds out he will tell everyone. What if they want to scan me? maybe I should pretend to be ill at the last minute and not go on the trip!

I had heard (on the local news) that you can find out before going through security that you can find out if you've been preselected for random screening. I don't know if thats true for all airports but maybe you could ask the person when you check in about that? I've also heard they are safe and all because it emits such low radiation that it doesn't make a difference and you experience more radiation waves in flight. I still don't want to go through it because of so many conflicting statements.

 

[ChristinaRN]

Going through airport security is NOT the same as having an xray done. The radiation is totally a different level. The airport screener is more along the lines as the same amount of radiation the sun emits....yet no one seems to be freaking out about that. Secondly they don't do a totally invasive pat down....they use a wand and it's quick, non-invasive and non humiliating. Pregnant women fly everyday and its no big deal.

 

[Ashley2189]

Going through airport security is NOT the same as having an xray done. The radiation is totally a different level. The airport screener is more along the lines as the same amount of radiation the sun emits....yet no one seems to be freaking out about that. Secondly they don't do a totally invasive pat down....they use a wand and it's quick, non-invasive and non humiliating. Pregnant women fly everyday and its no big deal.

the part of not doing an invasive pat down is incorrect for what they are talking about. New TSA regulations full body scanner is an xray machine that shows a full naked outline of your body. The pat-down is much more invasive than people are used to, and is NOT with a wand. Screeners are now authorized to use the front of their hands and to touch areas around breasts and groins. there is a LOT of controversy with the invasiveness of these new procedures. there have been complaints of feeling taken advantage of, with the screener actually groping breasts and genital areas.

as far as the safety of these xrays - i wouldn't risk it. you might have to subject yourself to the humility of one of these pat-downs, but what's some humility compared with the health and safety of your child? when confronted with the situation, you MUST do one or the other. if you refuse to comply with either one they will not allow you to leave the airport until you have been fully questioned and determined not to be a threat and you may be subject to a fine of up to $11,000 I believe is the amount.

https://www.aclu.org/technology-and-liberty/tsa-pat-down-search-abuse

 

[Ashley2189]

OK so my worry is that I have to travel for work in a couple of weeks and I will be going through security with a colleague - I CANNOT tell him I am pregnant before the 12 week scan, I do not want work to know and he is not discreet - if he finds out he will tell everyone. What if they want to scan me? maybe I should pretend to be ill at the last minute and not go on the trip!

you don't have to tell them you are pregnant, you always have the choice to opt of of the scan and request the pat-down.

 

[alienbabe4321]

I wouldn't think the radiation would be at a dangerous level as they'd have to think of the people who commute to and from countries (my dentist flies to and from his home land on the weekends) and would have a high level of exposure.

I still wouldn't risk it though.

 

[midori1999]

I don't know where you've been looking, but the Department for Transport deem the scanners safe for use by pregnant women.

https://www.heathrowairport.com/por...nformation^Heathrow+security^Security+FAQs#8a

"According to the DfT, "the dose received from the scanner is a very small fraction of that received every day from natural sources and is far lower than the permissible levels allowed by law for all types of people, including expectant mothers"."

The Royal College of Obstericians and Gynaecologists also deem them safe:

https://www.rcog.org.uk/womens-heal...t-full-body-scanners-and-pregnancy-query-bank

"Backscatter machines - Produce low level x-rays and give 2d images. The radiation levels of such machines is equivalent to 2 minutes of air travel"

"Millimetre wave units - Produce radio waves and give 3d images. Emission levels are 10,000 lower than a mobile phone."

millimetre wave scanners are those used at airports such as Heathrow, they are NOT X-rays.

Scans at Heathrow are NOT optional. You cannot refuse one and have a body search instead, if you refuse, you will not be allowed to fly.

 

[Ozzieshunni]

See, the thing is, they DON'T know for sure the effects of it all! Luckily, we are not going through Heathrow, but there are ones at Newark.

OF COURSE you can refuse and get a pat down! Especially if you're pregnant! Radiation in ANY dose is bad! My mom is an X-ray technician and has studied about the effects of radiation. I think I know what I'm talking about.....

 

[midori1999]

Well, you clearly don't know what you are talking about and are scare mongering. As I stated, you are not allowed to refuse to go through the scanners at Heathrow (or Manchester actually) and will not be allowed to fly if you refuse to go through. If you don't believe me, look on the Heathrow website I have linked, it tells you as much.

Also, as the link to the website of The Royal College of Gynaecologists and Obstericians shows, Emission levels are 10,000 times lower than those given out by a mobile phone. I suspect the RCOG know a bit more about it than your Mum.

I can assure you, a terrorist with a bomb or knife on your flight is far more of a risk to your baby than airport scanners. They don't use them for a laugh, they use them because they deem them necessary for security.

 

[Ozzieshunni]

Scare mongering? Every person, let alone a pregnant woman has the right to refuse these full body scans! It's not just about being pregnant, it's about our rights!

Don't comment and accuse me of something that is certainly not true! Freedom of information, remember?

 

[My_First]

Yes of course you can refuse, but you WILL NOT be allowed on your flight, link here to Heathorw Airport. https://www.heathrowairport.com/por.../448c6a4c7f1b0010VgnVCM200000357e120a____/#8a

Oh, and its the same at Manchester and shortly Birmingham