I recently had my entire diabetes kit inspected at BWI in baltimore. After
the hand inspection by the guard I discarded the insulin . He claimed that
it could not go through X-ray. He also contaminated the membrane on the
insulin bottle.
I sent a letter to the manager of Wackenhut security at BWI. He agreed
that the insulin could go through but that they are required to inspect
any and all liquids they detect. He said that it was up to me to tell the
guard how to handle the items. If the guard had hepatitis (which I was
most concerned about) or failed to wash his hands after using the
bathroom, I was concerned about being unable to clean the membrane on the
insulin bottle even with alcohol.
I have been through many other airports without this problem. It has only
occurred at BWI. I have always declared the diabetes test set, injectors
and insulin as well as any other electronic gear. Anyone else have this
problem?
As for now I plan to write to the Diabetes foundation with copies of
letters from the BWI security as well as my letter. For now I will drive
the 7 hours when I have business in the Baltimore area rather that subject
myself to the improper handling of my insulin and other diabetic
medications and equipment.
Please respond either to this return address or, preferably,
bernste…@rl.af.mil
thanks
Norm
In article <3irgjc$…@newsbf02.news.aol.com>, NormPB <nor…@aol.com> wrote:
>I recently had my entire diabetes kit inspected at BWI in baltimore. After
>the hand inspection by the guard I discarded the insulin . He claimed that
>it could not go through X-ray. He also contaminated the membrane on the
>insulin bottle.
>I have been through many other airports without this problem. It has only
>occurred at BWI. I have always declared the diabetes test set, injectors
>and insulin as well as any other electronic gear. Anyone else have this
>problem?
Actually, every time I fly I just put the bottles in my pocket and walk
through the metal detector. Since my change, keys and pocketknife
seldom set it off, it’s not surprising that my insulin bottles never
have either. There is some substance at the top of the bottles that
might or might not be metallic, but I’ve never had trouble doing it that
way.
However, once I took a shot in the bathroom in a plane, and I left
my NPH bottle on the counter. There was in short order an announcement
inquiring whether anyone had left medicine in the bathroom. I
sheepishly went back to claim it, and the flight attendant informed me
that, as per standard airline protocol, they were presuming that it
was an explosive until they determined otherwise. So be careful…
Recently, when returning from Mexico, I had a little bit of trouble at the
security checkpoint in Cancun.
I have always had my kit, which includes my blood glucose meter, hand
inspected. I have never had any trouble. Usually, attention immediately
focuses on the meter and nothing else in the kit even gets touched.
This time, my heart sunk when the attendant decided that the device was
not permitted on the plane. It took a lot of talking and intervention
from another attendant to convince the security officers that this was
medical equipment and get things straightened out. Once again, however,
nothing else in the kit was touched. (I could have had anything in there,
were I so inclined!)
By the way, another of the passengers was not permitted to carry on a pair
of beard-trimming scissors.
Stephen Ecker
SEc…@aol.com
Senior Software Engineer
Advantage Learning Systems, Inc.
Wisconsin Rapids, WI
Evan, I walk about 1/2 to 3/4 mile in to work each day (depending on what time I arrive) and I have trouble with the cold possibly freezing (making it go bad) my insulin, so I
have started putting it in an inside pocket. I wonder why it took me so long to think of this??
michelle
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
> Actually, every time I fly I just put the bottles in my pocket and walk
> through the metal detector. Since my change, keys and pocketknife
> seldom set it off, it’s not surprising that my insulin bottles never
> have either. There is some substance at the top of the bottles that
> might or might not be metallic, but I’ve never had trouble doing it that
> way.
> However, once I took a shot in the bathroom in a plane, and I left
> my NPH bottle on the counter. There was in short order an announcement
> inquiring whether anyone had left medicine in the bathroom. I
> sheepishly went back to claim it, and the flight attendant informed me
> that, as per standard airline protocol, they were presuming that it
> was an explosive until they determined otherwise. So be careful…
In <3irgjc$…@newsbf02.news.aol.com>, nor…@aol.com (NormPB) writes:
>I recently had my entire diabetes kit inspected at BWI in baltimore. After
>the hand inspection by the guard I discarded the insulin . He claimed that
>it could not go through X-ray. He also contaminated the membrane on the
>insulin bottle.
After years of worrying about problems at security and customs (questions
about meters, syringes) I have never ever had a problem with anyone anywhere.
I once had a problem with a thermos bottle in London, and a camera in Berlin,
but never with my diabetes stuff. And, btw, I have always sent my insulin
through the conveyor belt/X-ray machine, never had any bad effects. I once did
have an argument with an airline employee: "You must check that bag." "I can’t."
"You must." "You don’t understand: my meds are in this bag. Where I go,
this bag goes." It was, btw, a "fits under the seat" size bag. Said employee
capitulated.
Now: does anyone else get a letter from endocrinologist before travelling in a
foreign country, just in case you have to "demonstrate a need" for syringes? I
suspect my dr. thinks I worry too much.
>In article <3irgjc$…@newsbf02.news.aol.com> nor…@aol.com "NormPB" writes:
> I sent a letter to the manager of Wackenhut security at BWI. He agreed
> that the insulin could go through but that they are required to inspect
> any and all liquids they detect.
Is this something new at US Airports (BWI in particular)? I fly in and
out of BWI at least a half a dozen times a month and have never had a
problem – las time was just a couple weeks ago. Of course, I may be
taking a risk I never considered, since I always send my kit (insulin,
meter, etc) through the XRay. Personally, I have more trouble making
it through the metal detectors – if I leave my pager on, the pump and
pager combined exceed critical mass and set the thing off every time.
In article <3jcpvt$1…@news-s01.ny.us.ibm.net> den…@ibm.net writes:
> Now: does anyone else get a letter from endocrinologist before travelling in a
> foreign country, just in case you have to "demonstrate a need" for syringes? I
> suspect my dr. thinks I worry too much.
I have a letter: not so much for the medical stuff, as for the food
(on international flights I carry crackers, a tube of cheese, a small
tin of fruit in its own juice, etc – all stuff which is wrapped and
sterile, but which agriculture/customs people might _possibly_ take
exception to). While most people know that diabetics carry syringes
and insulin, a goodly proportion believe that we can’t eat sugar, so
that’s the area where I suspect I might need the letter.
My doctor thinks I worry too much …
—
Patricia Reynolds
p…@caerlas.demon.co.uk
In article <D51947….@network.com>
tone…@mdco.network.com "Aileen Toner" writes:
On a related topic, I wonder if anyone’s ever had this experience…?
I recently had to visit an embassy building, here in the UK. At the entrance,
I had to go through the whole "turn out your pockets, empty your briefcase.."
routine. Eventually, they got to my "diabetic kit". We argued our way
past "No food allowed on the premises" (*sigh*) and "What is this piece of
electronics?" "It’s a blood glucose meter…" (Blank expression), and they
eventually tipped it all back on the heap and left me to sort it out… with one
exception… my blood-sampling "Stabber".
I use a "Penlet", the one that comes with the meter, and they got *really*
excited about the fact that it had a little spring-loaded spike inside.
There was *no*way* they were going to let it in the building, and heavy,
mean-looking gentlemen with Large Guns appeared, sealed it in a plastic bag
with an Official Label on it and carried it, at arm’s length, to a big,
armoured, blast-proof box and locked it inside.
On the way out, several hours later, the same Men With Guns had to come
and unlock the box and gingerly lift the bag out again and return my sampler
to me.
Presumably, the theory was that I might have vaulted over the bullet-proof
glass barriers and sampled somebody to death with it… (despite the fact
that I could probably do more harm with a sharp pencil…and there’s no
chance of me vaulting over *anything*, let alone a bandit screen!)
–
—————————————————–
Ian Preece i…@dktower.demon.co.uk
IT Project Specialist Ideas for hire.
—————————————————–
I’m going to Europe this summer (England, Germany, Switzerland). Both my
wife and myself use insulin (I’m a II and she’s a I) and we have our own
syringe supplies and insulins. Are there any problems to anticipate on this
2 week trip? I’m talking airports, and suspicious customs agents, etc.
–
Chuck Cronan from Milwaukee
ccro…@mixcom.com
> In article <3jcpvt$1…@news-s01.ny.us.ibm.net> den…@ibm.net writes:
>> Now: does anyone else get a letter from endocrinologist before travelling in a
>> foreign country, just in case you have to "demonstrate a need" for syringes? I
>> suspect my dr. thinks I worry too much.
About seventeen years ago, when I moved to the midwest for grad school (I grew
up on the west coast), I travelled through Canada where gas was, at that time,
much cheaper. I had no problems going across the border into Canada, but spent
an hour or so while the border inspectors checked my insulin on the way back
in. At that time, they suggested it would be to my benefit if I had had a
letter. I haven’t travelled outside the U.S. since, except to fly to
conferences. I’ve carried the letter, but never had to use it (yet).
Orville R. Butler
In article <794568877…@dktower.demon.co.uk>,
Ian Preece <i…@dktower.demon.co.uk> wrote:
….beginning of embassy visit story deleted….>
>eventually tipped it all back on the heap and left me to sort it out…
>with one exception… my blood-sampling "Stabber".
….wonderful Big Men with Big Guns stuff snipped….
>Presumably, the theory was that I might have vaulted over the bullet-proof
>glass barriers and sampled somebody to death with it… (despite the fact
>that I could probably do more harm with a sharp pencil…and there’s no
>chance of me vaulting over *anything*, let alone a bandit screen!)
Thanks for the wonderful story Ian! I am personally taking this one not
as Yet Another Lesson Learned, but as a great story over which I am still
giggling. The picture of you sampling people to death is priceless! Thank
you for the gift. Sometimes a little levity helps me more than one
more lesson to tuck away in order avoid a future possible problem (not
that I’m at all against avoiding future possible problems – I’m just
totally in favor of an occasional good laugh). In fact, the more the
better as far as I’m concerned, so please keep ‘em coming!
Jan
et…@u.washington.edu
In article <794568877…@dktower.demon.co.uk> i…@dktower.demon.co.uk
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
(Ian Preece) writes:
> I recently had to visit an embassy building, here in the UK.
> [....]
> I use a "Penlet", the one that comes with the meter, and they got *really*
> excited about the fact that it had a little spring-loaded spike inside.
> There was *no*way* they were going to let it in the building, and heavy,
> mean-looking gentlemen with Large Guns appeared, sealed it in a plastic bag
> with an Official Label on it and carried it, at arm’s length, to a big,
> armoured, blast-proof box and locked it inside.
> [....]
> Presumably, the theory was that I might have vaulted over the bullet-proof
> glass barriers and sampled somebody to death with it…
Though it is, perhaps, unlikely, there is the "spreading HIV infection"
scenario to consider. Suppose a random loony, who happened to be infected
with HIV, stuck himself with his "Penlet" (smeared his blood all over the
sharp bits, even, to increase the "dosage"), and then stuck you with it….
would you feel comfortable about that? Such things do happen…. and with
embassy buildings so often used as political targets, you can’t really
fault them for their concern about security.
Do you carry a note from your doctor, stating that you’re diabetic, and so
need to eat regularly, carry these supplies with you at all times, and so
on? It may seem silly or unnecessary, but it’s a good idea. Arguing with
embassy staff (or whoever) may get you good stories to tell…. you may be
right, ethically-morally-and-politically correct, and absolutely justified
in being outraged…. but for completing whatever business you came to do,
without impacting your health by being forced to surrender food/supplies
that you need, the simple efficiency of a doctor’s note is often the best
way to go.
> …. (despite the fact that I could probably do more harm with a sharp
> pencil…and there’s no chance of me vaulting over *anything*, let alone
> a bandit screen!)
Was *everyone* else in the building behind bullet-proof barriers? Or just
the embassy employees? Odd though it may seem, they were probably concerned
about other visitors, as well as their own staff. :-)
=============================================================================
Barbara Petersen
b…@velvet.com
peter…@netcom.com
In article <794764972…@dktower.demon.co.uk>, i…@dktower.demon.co.uk (Ian Preece) says:
>In article <3jlscn$…@nntp1.u.washington.edu>
> et…@u.washington.edu "Jan Ettel" writes:
>Unfortunately, not everyone has seen it as levity, as was intended,
>and I’ve been obliged to apologise for it.
>–
>—————————————————–
>Ian Preece i…@dktower.demon.co.uk
>IT Project Specialist Ideas for hire.
>—————————————————–
Hi Ian
Please don’t apologize for having a sense of humor. Too many people
don’t seem to know how to look at life thru the lighter side. They take
everything to the extreme and read things into something said that not
only isn’t accurate, but not even there.
This is one poster who loves a deep, serious discussion, but also would
not know how to live life with no humor in it.
Tari
I too have never had any problems at all travelling with
insulin, syringes, and/or pump and supplies. I have travelled
a lot both domestically and internationally. Even travelling
to TelAviv last month going through Frankfurt where there are
thourough to put it mildly, never a question. The guy in
Frankfurt looked at the Disetronic glass cartidge a little
funny, but he didn’t say a word and neither did I.
Now, my most embarrasing moment where if anyone tells,
I’ll deny everything:)… A couple of years ago flying
firstclass on British Airways from Gatwick back to Dallas,
I left my syringe in the airplane lav! We were almost to
the runway and when one of the stews found the thing, we
turned around and went back all the way to the gate.
Security boarded the plane. No announcements were made
that I recall. The stew, I think, remembered me in there
and security and her approached me quitely. It didn’t
take very long to straighten out the situation, but I
was humbled very quickly!
Sam_Man…@mcimail.com
Sam_Man…@mcimail.com writes:
>I too have never had any problems at all travelling with
>insulin, syringes, and/or pump and supplies. I have travelled
>a lot both domestically and internationally. Even travelling
>to TelAviv last month going through Frankfurt where there are
>thourough to put it mildly, never a question.
I’ve never had a problem either. The airport inspection dudes
are probably just bored by us after a while. About 1/200
people are Type I’s (roughly), and many more Type II’s. And
how many THOUSANDS of people travel through busy airports each
day? There aren’t many of us, but they see us all the time.
Before going to Australia about 2 years ago, I called the
consulate to ask if I needed a prescription to get insulin if
my supply were to get lost or damaged. The lady informed me
(rather snootily) that "Australia is a civilized country" and
I would have no difficulties if the need arose. Well, gee, just
thought I’d ask.
So, carrying a three month supply of syringes, and a couple of
liter bottles of a mysterious white liquid, the customs dudes
just let me pass right through.
Kelly Miller
mil…@aries.scs.uiuc.edu
Australia IS a civilized country, by the way. And the white
liquids were the samples I was bringing with me. Harmless,
really, though maybe a slight bit acidic for airline travel
(they were only pH 0.7!). :^)
I’ve been to France twice, and Japan once, and had no trouble whatsoever.
I’m sure the same would be true for England, Germany and Switzerland. It would
be wise nonetheless to have some confirmation of your diabetes (I have a
Medic Alert and old prescription, but have never had to show them.) I think
its safe to say that Diabetes is common enough that you shouldn’t have any
trouble almost anywhere in the world. (Note: when I travelled it was sometimes
alone, so I learned to say "Diabetes" in the language of the country I was
travelling to in case I needed help).
Have a good trip.
Jeff Gui
g…@sequoia.com
>>>>> "denver" == denver <den…@ibm.net> writes:
> In <3irgjc$…@newsbf02.news.aol.com>, nor…@aol.com (NormPB)
> writes:
> Now does anyone else get a letter from endocrinologist before
> travelling in a foreign country, just in case you have to
> "demonstrate a need" for syringes? I suspect my dr. thinks I worry
> too much.
I did once, but I’ve never had any problems so I don’t bother anymore.
When my Novopen I showed up, they were curious, but I explained what
it was and they looked uninterested.
—
Bruce Institute of Advanced Scientific Computation
br…@liverpool.ac.uk University of Liverpool
= > Now does anyone else get a letter from endocrinologist before
= > travelling in a foreign country, just in case you have to
= > "demonstrate a need" for syringes? I suspect my dr. thinks I worry
= > too much.
=
= I did once, but I’ve never had any problems so I don’t bother anymore.
= When my Novopen I showed up, they were curious, but I explained what
= it was and they looked uninterested.
I got a prescription from my doctor to carry ‘supplies’ to the Dominican…
I didn’t need it ‘cuz my wife was frantically saying ‘diabetico’ to the airport
gaurds when they started eying my needles!
Up against the wall, por favor!
PM
My girlfriend’s pump once set off the metal detector. I wrote MiniMed and
suggested that they issue a letter or ID card to all pumpers saying they
are wearing a medical device which can NOT be removed. MiniMed never
responded. I think such a card and a letter from you doctor could be a
hassle saver should you get the Security Guard of the Year who sees all
and hears nothing.