Getting Ready to Fly?

News flash! TSA announces launch of TSA Cares toll free help line for travelers with disabilities and medical needs (12/21/11). See the TSA press release for details.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has been working with several groups, including the Oley Foundation, to try to make screening procedures less difficult for people traveling with medical supplies. In November the TSA announced they are implementing "Risk-Based Security” measures that they hope will benefit travels who have disabilities and medical conditions. These new measures include:

• The Pre3™Expedited Screening pilot program, which is available with some airlines and at some airports. The program prescreens individuals who volunteer information about themselves prior to flying in order to potentially expedite the screening experience.

• New screening procedures for passengers twelve and under reduce, but don’t eliminate, pat-downs of children twelve and under. Passengers twelve and under are also allowed to leave their shoes on when going through security checkpoints.

• New privacy protection software on the Advanced Imaging Technology units eliminates the image of an actual passenger and replaces it with a generic outline of a person.

The TSA recommends that travelers with medically necessary liquids disclose those liquids to TSA personnel prior to having their bag screened. These liquids should be separated from any other liquids or gels. If you would like to be discreet about your medical condition, you can download a notification card from the TSA Web site. The card does not exempt you from screening, but it may help you communicate sensitive information more discreetly.

The TSA has set up a disability office to try to address any screening issues that may make traveling with medical supplies difficult. If you have problems with screening, please collect all details—gate, city, TSA representative’s name, etc.—and e-mail your concerns to this group at TSA.ODPO@TSA.DHS.gov or call TSA Cares toll free at (855) 787-2227.

LifelineLetter, November/December 2011