Travelling with surgical plates

cantdecide

I had surgery as result of a motorbike accident while abroad last May. I subsequently flew Kathmandu/ Delhi/ Heathrow on route home and I quite obviously was incapacitated by my injuries so I was left alone by Security but I told the guy in Delhi and he quickly found the plates with the wand.

Now I'm in a much better state and fit to carry luggage but I have a flight to Copenhagen on Friday and I don't know what the protocol is. I have three fine big stainless steel plates and a fistful of screws too and I could easily set off the metal detectors so I wonder if I need some kind of medical certificate??

Sponge Bob

Hand them in where the outside luggage like golf bags and chidlrens buggies goes.

Stheno

Get medical cert stating that you have the plates.

Nforce

Stheno wrote: »

Get medical cert stating that you have the plates.

I just got a letter from my GP.

veetwin

Stheno wrote: »

Get medical cert stating that you have the plates.

No need. I have travelled a million air miles with loads of metal in both legs. Always set off the scanner (I work in the airport and go through one every day) and never had a problem in any airport anywhere in the world even with language difficulties in the likes of China, Russia or the Middle East.

sunrise91

I have a plate and screws in my arm but it has never set off the scanner, never had to bother with a medical cert. Maybe it depends on the plates/airport?

coylemj

Sometimes when you go through the body scanner, the scanner will go off even if you are 'clean', it's set to do this for a random % of the people who walk through where nothing is detected. This is probably implemented so that nobody can be guaranteed that they will not activate the alarm. The security people have often told me about the randomness of the alarm because as a reasonably frequent flyer I know what sets off the body scanner so when they see the look of bewilderment on my face when the alarm goes off even though I'm carrying nothing, they own up, go through a patdown search and send me on my way.

The OP can explain his internal metal to the security staff but they'll probably frisk him anyway so my advice to him would be to just say nothing, it isn't going to get him through the procedure any faster, in fact the time it takes them to read the letter from his GP or consultant will be time wasted. As far as the security staff are concerned, the OP could be a test run by the authorities, it's not like they're going to read the letter, tell him he's fine and send him away with no patdown.

jdee99

I have rods and screws in my back - set the alarms off once and I just explained what had caused it. Was patted down and waved through.

coylemj

jdee99 wrote: »

I have rods and screws in my back - set the alarms off once and I just explained what had caused it. Was patted down and waved through.

I appreciate that you want to be helpful but my point (above) is that there is no need to explain anything. The security staff don't know if the alarm went off because you've carrying something or have internal metal or if it's a random 'false positive' so you're going to get frisked anyway.

You might as well shrug your shoulders, keep your mouth shut and spread 'em!

jdee99

coylemj wrote: »

I appreciate that you want to be helpful but my point (above) is that there is no need to explain anything. The security staff don't know if the alarm went off because you've carrying something or have internal metal or if it's a random 'false positive' so you're going to get frisked anyway.

You might as well shrug your shoulders, keep your mouth shut and spread 'em!

Each to there own mate - you do it your way and I will do my way. If i can help someone doing a crappy job and it helps me get through the gates that little bit quicker then I will. And for the record I set the alarms off at DC and a quick explanation saved me being dragged off to a search room.

coylemj

jdee99 wrote: »

And for the record I set the alarms off at DC and a quick explanation saved me being dragged off to a search room.

How do you know you would have been 'dragged' off to a search room. I've set off the alarm in US airports, the chief difference between what happens next is that in Europe, if you can produce something out of your pocket which may have caused the alarm to go off, they will usually allow you a second go through the scanner, in the US they don't allow you a second go and will move you to one side and frisk you.

The security people weren't doing their job properly if they treated you differently because you told them about metal inside you, they shouldn't accept anything that can't be easily verified on the spot. Even a letter from your GP or an x-ray doesn't prove anything.

cantdecide

Well at least in my case you can see the plate on my collarbone through a t-shirt and you can see the scar over my shoulder blade.

I might try to see if I can get a letter from my GP too.

Leejo

coylemj wrote: »

I appreciate that you want to be helpful but my point (above) is that there is no need to explain anything. The security staff don't know if the alarm went off because you've carrying something or have internal metal or if it's a random 'false positive' so you're going to get frisked anyway.

You might as well shrug your shoulders, keep your mouth shut and spread 'em!

Yes they do. The ASU in Dublin airport will always know what sets the metal detector off as they get different notifications for where the alarm is set off, eg. shoes, right side of body, left side, belt, there's also a different alarm for a random.

Working in the airport I only ever get searched when it's a random, "It's just a random mate, any problem if I have a quick search? Nothing sharp on you? Thanks very much"

Having said that, there's no need to have any proof, just tell them you have a plate wherever and they'll go over it with a handheld metal detector.

jdee99

coylemj wrote: »

How do you know you would have been 'dragged' off to a search room. I've set off the alarm in US airports, the chief difference between what happens next is that in Europe, if you can produce something out of your pocket which may have caused the alarm to go off, they will usually allow you a second go through the scanner, in the US they don't allow you a second go and will move you to one side and frisk you.

The security people weren't doing their job properly if they treated you differently because you told them about metal inside you, they shouldn't accept anything that can't be easily verified on the spot. Even a letter from your GP or an x-ray doesn't prove anything.

I guess it doesnt matter what anyone says if it is counter your greater knowledge on the subject. I have to say that a) I have never meet you and b) I am fairly confident you wasnt with me when the conversation was had with the security supervisor in DC in which case you really dont have a clue what was said or done.

Wish you well and i genuinely hope you never meet a security guard who is having an off day doing a difficult job for the benefit of all your fellow passengers

Cork boy 55

There is some sort of security/travel card that is issued to by the manufacturers of metal devices and implants for this, I have seen it.

tony81

My advice is always to carry your certs. Even if they're not needed 99% of the time, it costs nothing to carry them with you (seeing as you're carrying a passport anyway).
It's also a good idea to get certified translations when visiting a country where English is not widely spoken.

seven_eleven

My father and myself have a tiny little metal bar under the skin due to surgery which always sets off the metal detector every single time. We have no certs or anything. We just say we have a bar there and they swipe it with the wand before letting us through.