Metal Detector

Seacrow said:

What certificate? I know it can't go through a metal scanner because it says so in the manual. I'm not going to carry the large and heavy manual around, do I need a certificate? And if so, where from?

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Why not photocopy the relevant page in the manual and carry that around.

Have you tried emailing the manufacturers? Might be worth a try.

As with airport security (see posts on travel) your doctor can give you a medical certificate that advises that the pump should not go through a scanner. ( the pump companies say they will not (or may not) honour pump warranty if this happens).
I gather that sometimes GPs charge for providing a medical certificate/letter but that specialists can provide such a letter gratis.
My specialist went further and indicated in his letter:" Removal of this insulin pump from its wearer may prove lethal".

Seacrow said:

I'm pretty sure a photocopied page from a text isn't going to be 'official' enough.


Yeah, good idea. It only happened yesterday, so I'm a bit startled still.
I might ask my consultant for a ' to whom it may concern' letter, that would come on headed notepaper and look nicely official. He's already done one letter for my pump for me, a 'hands off the pump' to medical staff version.

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Perhaps ask for two copies. Keep on with your wallet etc and another as spare with say, travel luggage.
The envelope of the one in my wallet is becoming worn but at least protects the letter itself but eventually like a folded map the paper creases will wear to !!

Pumps are fine to go through walk through metal detectors, ie the walk through archway. Its the full body scanner where you step inside and stop to be scanned that most cannot go in.

Tipetoo said:

Why not photocopy the relevant page in the manual and carry that around.

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Hi l, do you have a medtronic device? If you do tell me how to post a photograph on this forum and I will send you the medtronic certificate they sent me via email. Or you can phone their customer services in the UK and they will send it to you. Mine is written both in English and Italian and specifies not to go through X Ray or body scanner

gemma_T1 said:

Hi l, do you have a medtronic device? If you do tell me how to post a photograph on this forum and I will send you the medtronic certificate they sent me via email. Or you can phone their customer services in the UK and they will send it to you. Mine is written both in English and Italian and specifies not to go through X Ray or body scanner

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The advice I have (and have followed 20 + times) from the NHS ("Air travel and Insulin Pumps") which was provided by my diabetes team states "Most pump manufacturers advise that insulin pumps should not pass through scanning equipment for hand luggage or whole body scanners at airports". This does not mention metal detectors. By "whole body scanners" this means (and I have checked, checked again and double checked with my diabetes team) the while body x-ray machines where you stand on two foot prints and put your hand in the air. The metal detector archway that you walk through is safe.

It looks like there's a lot of confusion between

a) walk through metal detectors that are fine for all pumps
b) X Ray machines that most pump manufacturers advise not putting pumps through
c) Full walk through body scanners that only Omnipod have approved using.

Although I always put my Insight handset though the Xray machine inside my hand luggage, also any backup BG machine too, since I first got BG test machine, circa 1980's.

Chas C said:

It looks like there's a lot of confusion between

a) walk through metal detectors that are fine for all pumps
b) X Ray machines that most pump manufacturers advise not putting pumps through

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I can't speak for all brands, but the Medtronic 640g goes through the metal detectors no worries in Australian domestic airports. A few weeks ago a security guard saw something in my pocket and tried to stop me walking through the metal detector. I told him it wasn't a problem and walked straight through before he could stop me. As it didn't set anything off he couldn't do anything.
They do have special certificates and the x-rays are taught not to pick certain signatures. As part of my sporting gear I have taken a small explosive device (a detonator) connected to electronics and a battery without a problem as checked luggage in a locked suitcase and I know the suitcase hasn't been opened as I use my own padlocks. There is no reason if pumps do get the clearance to go through scanners from manufacturers that the scanning companies can't do the same thing for the pumps.

helensaramay said:

The advice I have (and have followed 20 + times) from the NHS ("Air travel and Insulin Pumps") which was provided by my diabetes team states "Most pump manufacturers advise that insulin pumps should not pass through scanning equipment for hand luggage or whole body scanners at airports". This does not mention metal detectors. By "whole body scanners" this means (and I have checked, checked again and double checked with my diabetes team) the while body x-ray machines where you stand on two foot prints and put your hand in the air. The metal detector archway that you walk through is safe.

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Indeed we are saying the same thing. Or did you mean to reply to someone else? My pump Medtronic 640g does not set off metal detectors and neither did my other medtronic pumps. Metal detectors are not the problem.

The problem is the body scanner (the thing that looks like it’s from Star Trek and Captain Kirk is about to say ‘beam me up Scottie’) and the X Ray machine that your hand luggage is put through.

My advice to others with Medtronic pumps is always to carry some documentation which you can request from their customer services dept. I have a copy and it specifies very clearly where the pump can and cannot go.

I am unable to post a photo of it, sorry.

Unfortunately, I have never had anyone with the desire to read this document and have been through the body scanner twice with a metal needle in my stomach and pump still attached and treated very aggressively by very inexperienced staff. I felt very vulnerable and was alone with a small boy and felt powerless and complied but never again! The pump started to have problems functioning and kept rewinding and cutting out. This happened to two different pumps. The Medtronic team told me that if this happens again I must call for the supervisor, manager or medic and insist on the pat down and swab and get hem to telephone Medtronic.

The pat down and swan is the protocol I have followed elsewhere in Europe.

Medtronic state in the document they supply for the airport, that the pumps can go through metal detectors but not the others as said above as I mentioned in my original post.

The fundamental problem is that many security staff do not know this. This as I have said elsewhere causes needless stress and expense ( if they are forced into the body scanner with pump and it breaks) to the passenger. This in my opino is discrimination and a lack of proper training and information by airlines and airports. Therefore it is basically the luck of the draw as to whether you will meet properly trained staff or not.

This is a long post but it seems to me that Diabetes Uk ( if they haven’t done so already, I don’t know if this is possible or even is their role ) should perhaps inform airports and airlines so that there is actually a standard form of treatment because in my opinion, as it stands it is a dreadful state of affairs.

By the way, I have it on good authority that the metal detectors go off randomly and not because they have detected metal ...

Best wishes

gemma_T1 said:

Hi l, do you have a medtronic device? If you do tell me how to post a photograph on this forum and I will send you the medtronic certificate they sent me via email. Or you can phone their customer services in the UK and they will send it to you. Mine is written both in English and Italian and specifies not to go through X Ray or body scanner

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No to the first question.

I host my pix with the free imgur.com hosting service, upload pix from your computer to them. Then select the pix you want to post on a forum, and you will have a choice of code select the bb code. Prety easy to do.

I do not live in the UK.

Tipetoo said:

No to the first question.

I host my pix with the free imgur.com hosting service, upload pix from your computer to them. Then select the pix you want to post on a forum, and you will have a choice of code select the bb code. Prety easy to do.

I do not live in the UK.

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I only have the Medtronic manufacturer’s information for pumps at airport security and other such places, regarding metal detectors, X Ray machines and body scanners.
I would advise you as others have before to contact your pump manufacturer for info sheet for such occasions and also your diabetes specialist/consultant for a letter saying you are a pump user etc.

It sounds really complicated to me UnfortunatelyI am really not technologically minded at all.

I will give it a go though! Thank you!

gemma_T1 said:

I would advise you as others have before to contact your pump manufacturer for info sheet for such occasions and also your diabetes specialist/consultant for a letter saying you are a pump user etc.

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I do not know where you got the idea that I have a pump from, as I do not have one.

Tipetoo said:

I do not know where you got the idea that I have a pump from, as I do not have one.

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Sorry, when I read your reply to how to post a photo I thought you were the person who posted about going through a metal detector. I didn’t check.
Sorry about that ... I will have to stop writing when bg over 18