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

[mumoffive]

Well if there is not other way, i would pretend i was ill!! Either that or just bite the bullet and swear him to secrecy. He has no right to tell anyone else. At the end of the day, its better that people know than risk going through something that has the potential to harm your baby...its either that or pull a sicky! x

 

[tina3747]

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.

Exactly my earlier point!! Any female security is welcome to full body search me if I don't go through a scanner!! The thought of my plane blowing up midair is far more scarier than getting frisked for security purposes!! There's no way anyone should be allowed to refuse theses security measures else what's the point!!

 

[My_First]

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.

Exactly my earlier point!! Any female security is welcome to full body search me if I don't go through a scanner!! The thought of my plane blowing up midair is far more scarier than getting frisked for security purposes!! There's no way anyone should be allowed to refuse theses security measures else what's the point!!

But you cant refuse the scanner, in the UK, ...thats the point. Pregnant or not.

 

[beautiful_day]

Well there does seem to be disagreement about the levels of radiation and safety. It seems to be one of those grey areas where the levels "shouldn't" harm your baby but if there is even th tiniest risk that it will then I'll opt out. I'd go through the invasive pat down any day, even if unpleasant. As long as it isn't a man groping me!

And I agree that in principle I'd rather the scans were done to make flights safer - I just wish there were measures in place for such situations - not all pregnant women can happily announce it out loud and sometimes it is very sensitive.

For my situation sadly a sickie is looking like the best option.

thanks for all the advice!

 

[Ozzieshunni]

In the USA, you can refuse a scan and opt for a patdown. Thankfully, we won't be going through Heathrow ever on our flights to California. There is a lot of debate about the actual amount of radiation put out by these scanners. There was research done by the University of California, San Francisco about it.

 

[mumoffive]

Found this:

https://www.babycentre.co.uk/pregnancy/travel/airportscreeningexpert/

Safety First
One of the biggest concerns for many pregnant women is whether or not it is safe to walk through the airport metal detectors. The answer is ABSOLUTELY! These machines are not x-ray machines and will cause absolutely no harm to you or your baby.

and this:

https://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23397526-health-fear-over-new-airport-scanners.do

 

[mumoffive]

But you cant refuse the scanner, in the UK, ...thats the point. Pregnant or not.

Actually, according to this, you can!

The British Airports Authority said passengers are free to refuse the X-Ray. But if they do, they will then have to be hand-searched.

 

[Ozzieshunni]

Metal detectors and the x-ray screeners are two different methods though

 

[midori1999]

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?

Yes, you can refuse, but in the mentioned UK airports, you will not be allowed to fly.

You will be exposed to far more raditation during your flight than you would be exposed to from a body scanner, so why aren't you concerned about flying too?

But you cant refuse the scanner, in the UK, ...thats the point. Pregnant or not.

Actually, according to this, you can!

The British Airports Authority said passengers are free to refuse the X-Ray. But if they do, they will then have to be hand-searched.

That's odd, because BAA Heathrow's own website says the following:

"Can passengers choose to be screened by an alternative method?

If selected for body scanning, you will not be offered an alternative method of screening. Refusal to be screened will result in you not being allowed to travel. We appreciate that this may appear harsh, but it is necessary in order to maintain security levels."

 

[Ozzieshunni]

Midori, they don't mention an exception for pregnant women though. If I was not pregnant, I wouldn't refuse.

 

[My_First]

But you cant refuse the scanner, in the UK, ...thats the point. Pregnant or not.

Actually, according to this, you can!

The British Airports Authority said passengers are free to refuse the X-Ray. But if they do, they will then have to be hand-searched.

Not according to the website at Heathrow. If you look at the link just you posted, its dated 2007. Full body x-rays didnt come in until the beginning of this year. The trial was October 2009 https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8303983.stm

 

[Leanne020807]

I have been through 2 while in early stages of pregnancy, I dint know I was pregnant but no problems here! Good point tho! I can't see them being harmful to them x

 

[mumoffive]

Well you could phone the airport and ask to be on the safe side. It would bother me. x

 

[Ozzieshunni]

Again, just to clarify, two different methods being discussed here......metal detectors I have no problems with, but it's the full body x-ray I'm concerned about....

 

[mumoffive]

PMSL ....OMG how explicit is that image? I think i would refuse it on a privacy issue alone! Thats disgusting!!

 

[Ozzieshunni]

Yeah, I saw the image too....honestly, it's like you're naked!

 

[My_First]

Alternatively - If you really have issue with it, here is a list of Airports to avoid...

https://www.businessinsider.com/what-airports-have-scanners-2010-11

 

[midori1999]

Again, just to clarify, two different methods being discussed here......metal detectors I have no problems with, but it's the full body x-ray I'm concerned about....

As far as I am aware, everyone is discussing the same method.

This is what Manchester Airport say about the safety of the machines (and theirs does emit x rays)

"The equipment is approved by the Health Protection Agency. Each full body scan of the Secure 1000 produces approximately 3 microREMs of emission. This is equivalent to the exposure every person receives each five minutes from naturally occurring background environmental radioactivity."


https://www.manchesterairport.co.uk/manweb.nsf/Content/X-Ray-Scanners-Public-Information

Perhaps it would be helpful if you provided some links which suggest these scanners are dangerous if you feel they are?

 

[Ozzieshunni]

https://news.cnet.com/8301-31921_3-20022541-281.html

One of the links in there is a letter from UCSF scientists to the TSA, who promptly rejects any ideas of them being dangerous HOWEVER there is evidence that not only are they dangerous to pregnant women, but to cancer patients, young children, and the elderly.

 

[Ozzieshunni]

Ok, let's look at this in a different way......

When you go to the doctor's for an x-ray, what happens? Your reproductive organs are covered by a LEAD shield and the technician is out of the room......

They are talking about a full body x-ray without any protection to vital organs.....hmmmm....