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

[midori1999]

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....

Can you see anyone's bones on the photos of the scanners in the links provided? No? Maybe because there are different types/frequencies of x-rays... Not sure how many x-rays you have had, but I have had a lot, including in a pregnancy earlier this year and the tech does go behind a screen, but not out of the room. They do numerous x rays all day every day for years and at that level, the radiation would be dangerous. I have never had anything covered during x rays unless I have been pregnant. My son has has numerous x rays and again, nothing has been covered.

As has been stated. The body scanner will subject you to less radiation than two minutes worth of flight. So, if you are that concerned about radiation, why are you flying?

 

[Ozzieshunni]

You didn't have them cover your son during x-rays? My mom would go nuts at hearing that! Always insist on being covered during x-rays!

As for the flying, I'm not worried about that. It's the direct x-ray that bothers me.

 

[My_First]

I have never been covered during any X rays either. Admittdly most of mine have been teeth and elbow related. I think the point Midori1999 is making about the flying is it exposes more radiation by flying than does the full bodied x ray machine, hence understanding why you are not botherd by that, but are by the x-ray machine...

 

[midori1999]

You didn't have them cover your son during x-rays? My mom would go nuts at hearing that! Always insist on being covered during x-rays!

As for the flying, I'm not worried about that. It's the direct x-ray that bothers me.

Surely you are concerned about the xray because of the radiation? (That is what's potentially a risk about xrays, nothing else) So, if you're going to be exposed to more raditation during a flight, why does that not bother you, but the scanner, which will expose you to less radiation, does?

Here is what the NHS say about medical x-rays during pregnancy, which are much more powerful and contain more raditation than airport scanners:

"

The doses of radiation that are used in X-rays are not thought to pose a risk to an unborn baby if used during pregnancy.

However, as a precaution, X-rays that directly target your womb, such as an X-ray of your abdomen, are not usually recommended unless there is a clear clinical need. Sometimes, an alternative method that does not involve radiation, such as an ultrasound scan, may be recommended instead.

Also as a precaution, you will usually be asked for the date of your last period before you have an X-ray. This is to check that there is no chance you could be pregnant.

If you have an X-ray and later discover you are pregnant, do not panic.

Even the most powerful types of X-rays, such as a barium enema, are not thought to adversely affect the outcome of pregnancy"

From here:

https://www.nhsdirect.wales.nhs.uk/encyclopaedia/x/article/xray/

 

[Ozzieshunni]

I think it's more of the directed radiation, as opposed to indirect radiation.

OH just told me they don't cover you up in the UK for x-rays.....hmmmm......

 

[Ozzieshunni]

It more comes down to your rights as well. You have the right to refuse such an invasive procedure and opt to have a pat down search as well. I didn't mean to make people so uppity....just making people aware.

 

[My_First]

It more comes down to your rights as well. You have the right to refuse such an invasive procedure and opt to have a pat down search as well. I didn't mean to make people so uppity....just making people aware.

In America...Plus, for me personally, if it means helping one more person less likely to put a bomb on the plane I am embarking, I am more than happy to have enhanced security...If they wanted to strip search me too, I have no problem if its mine and the planes safety...but of course ones persons definition of infingement of HR is different to another...

 

[midori1999]

I think it's more of the directed radiation, as opposed to indirect radiation.

OH just told me they don't cover you up in the UK for x-rays.....hmmmm......

Radiation is radiation. The effect of the raditation of the airport scanner on you is less than the effect of the radiation on you during a two minute flight. It is less than the radiation that would affect you during five minutes of your everyday life due to background radiation.

It more comes down to your rights as well. You have the right to refuse such an invasive procedure and opt to have a pat down search as well. I didn't mean to make people so uppity....just making people aware.

Of course, you have a right to refuse being scanned or body searched, just like the airlines have a right to refuse to let you fly.

I just don't think these sort of threads are helpful. They make people panic where there is no need. Pregnant women have enough to worry about without having to be worried about something that is blatantly no more risky to them than their everyday life.

They know the amounts of radiation these machines give out. That's a fact. They know that these levels are less than people experience in their everyday life, that is fact too.

 

[LaLaBelle]

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.

Hurray! Once again, you have said something ridiculously stupid and inaccurate. (Are you a troll who has fun spreading misinformation?)

They most certainly DO do an invasive patdown! You are very, very wrong about that. Please do some freakin' research or maybe watch the news or read a newspaper. The new TSA regulations about opt-out pat-downs make them invasive. They touch your genitals and breasts. It's not the old "gently brush with the back of your hands", it's now "push until you meet resistance."

It's invasive on purpose to make people think twice about opting out of the body scanners.



And as for the dangerousness of the scanners, that has not been proven. The TSA and the manufacturers of the scanners are the ones who said the propaganda line about "no more than ten minutes of sunshine's worth of radiation." Do you think that maybe they have something to gain in making people think they're safe?

There's a growing body of scientists who are very concerned about the radiation effects. Scientists who study radiation and it's effects on the body.



Your posts drive me insane. First you tell people not to go to Planned Parenthood because they'll try and talk you into an abortion and won't give you medical care (WRONG), and now this crap? I can't tell if you're actually stupid or doing this because you're a troll who enjoys spreading incorrect information to pregnant women.

 

[midori1999]

What are the airports gaining by saying they are
safe? Spending millions of pounds on technology they don't need to make flights safer? No-one wants another 9/11...

Airpots and the manufacturers stand to lose billions of pounds in lawsuits if the scanners are eventually proven unsafe.

It's not all a huge conspiracy....

 

[Ozzieshunni]

Did I mention conspiracy? *sigh* I'm just going to shut my mouth now. It's obvious from things I've experienced on here today that I'm wrong.

 

[yumyum1979]

Very good question , something i havent thought of xx

 

[beautiful_day]

Hurray! Once again, you have said something ridiculously stupid and inaccurate. (Are you a troll who has fun spreading misinformation?)

They most certainly DO do an invasive patdown! You are very, very wrong about that. Please do some freakin' research or maybe watch the news or read a newspaper.

No need to be rude, no one is on here as a doctor or expert in these fields, we are all just giving the best advice we know. We have probably all been wrong at times. If everyone reacted like this there would be no more forums because no one would dare post anything. As one of the people asking advice on this post, ALL the responses have been helpful, and the contradictions just make me think that the jury is still out on the danger or not of these things and that pretty much answers my question for me.

Wow between this and the veggie thread I think everyone is extra hormonal today!

 

[LaLaBelle]

No need to be rude, no one is on here as a doctor or expert in these fields, we are all just giving the best advice we know. We have probably all been wrong at times. If everyone reacted like this there would be no more forums because no one would dare post anything. As one of the people asking advice on this post, ALL the responses have been helpful, and the contradictions just make me think that the jury is still out on the danger or not of these things and that pretty much answers my question for me.

Wow between this and the veggie thread I think everyone is extra hormonal today!

Sorry, I am being very hormonal and bitchy today. I'm just so sick of this particular poster saying stupid crap. She was outright wrong and her information on the patdowns is horribly outdated. In the other post I'm thinking of, she told a girl looking for advice on where to get affordable obgyn care not to go to Planned Parenthood because Planned Parenthood would try and convince her to get an abortion.

 

[Ozzieshunni]

There is a school of thought that says any radiation exposure to a person is bad, so it's not so farfetched. I personally think it has gone a bit too far. I will be opting out for personal beliefs and the safety of my unborn baby. Who knows? I might not even be chosen for screening.

 

[leafygreenmum]

I never thought of that! We are off on honeymoon straight after the wedding (see sig), I was worried about the long flight but I never even thought about the xray! Can you opt not to have it? I would much rather be frisked than risk my bubba's health!

 

[Ozzieshunni]

Yes, you should be able to opt out! Make sure you have a note from your GP just in case!

 

[midori1999]

I never thought of that! We are off on honeymoon straight after the wedding (see sig), I was worried about the long flight but I never even thought about the xray! Can you opt not to have it? I would much rather be frisked than risk my bubba's health!

If you are flying from Heathrow or Manchester you can opt out, but you will not be allowed to fly.

DfT, BAA and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists deem the machines safe for use while pregnant.

 

[Ozzieshunni]

I never thought of that! We are off on honeymoon straight after the wedding (see sig), I was worried about the long flight but I never even thought about the xray! Can you opt not to have it? I would much rather be frisked than risk my bubba's health!

If you are flying from Heathrow or Manchester you can opt out, but you will not be allowed to fly.

DfT, BAA and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists deem the machines safe for use while pregnant.

Hmmmm, yet people are still disputing it and saying that any level of radiation in concentrated exposure is bad......I wonder..........

 

[Anna1982]

hiya
i got back from florida last week and didnt have to have the full body scan, im obviously pregnant (with twins) and they just looked at me and pointed me another way