So the new TSA regulations say that any child over the age of 11 who refuses the full body scan (which can see through clothes and shows a naked form and we don't know what the long term effects of the radiation are) will be "required to undergo an enhanced physical pat-down." This involves a TSA agent using the palm of an open hand to pat the person down. They will go around the breasts of females and up into the crotch of both males and females. They will also extensively feel both males and females butts.
Here's my question: We tell our children that if anyone touches their private parts they should tell us, or a police officer if we're not available and they will be protected. How then can I explain to my children that all of this is ok? If you're flying for the holidays, how will you be handling this?
It's been proven that the pictures from the new scanner CAN be saved. (A courthouse was using one to test run them and the guys saved pictures of a female coworker and used them to humiliate her.)
Secondly, the pat-down procedures have changed. They no longer use the back of their hand, they use an open palm. They also lift a woman's breasts to ensure there is nothing hiding in her bra. Your groin area will be touched. It is the same for children. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xr2o6-ToPMc)
Lastly, CT scans were considered safe. I had four of them before my 20th birthday. I went to the hospital because of chest pains a couple of weeks ago (turned out to be bronchitis) and was told that CT scans were studied for 5 years and it is now recommended that no one under the age of 20 get them unless it's an emergency. Anyone who had one under the age of 20 is at a greater risk for certain types of cancer. You can't say that this thing is safe and that it's not going to hurt my family or myself. (And yes, I travel regularly from San Antonio to Dallas) I guess we're back to trying to drive if we decide to go visit family.
We don't fly during the holidays, we are home bodies. We do fly often though, and we do not have issues with it, especially if it helps make our flight safer.
We've all 3 been through pat downs and the machines and the way we look at it is SAFETY. I personally don't think the amount of radiation for that short time is going to forever hurt us.
I don't use my time worrying about something like this.
The other alternative is car, bus or train.
Just tell them these are the new rules and that it's uncomfortable and not really a great situation, but that our government has decided that it's necessary to keep us safe from bad people doing terrible things while we're traveling. I would take myself and my kids through the full body scan with no worries. Unless you fly all the time and your kids fly all the time -I wouldn't be concerned about the radiation. If you're flying every week -sure -but several times a year -no.
i'll be interested to read the responses. i'm incensed by this intrusive and heavy-handed law that presumes guilt and violates personal freedom.
all in the quest for an illusory 'safety' that cannot possibly be furthered by invasive searches, and is costing us a fortune.
gah!
khairete
S.
From my experience, they don't "Touch your privates"...at least not that I'm aware of, I would think that's illegal & against the rules...We should be grateful that the airports are taking extra measures to ck ppl out. You can NEVER tell who's a threat or not & they should never take anyone's word for it that they're okay & not out to cause any trouble. This is business, nothing personal... If you have an issue w/getting patted down, go thru the scanner. It's really not a big deal. If you have nothing to hide why should you worry? Is the whole world going to see the scan? Prob not. Other than the children, we're all adults here as are the security ppl & we ALLL know what a 'naked body' looks like. I've seen live action use of these scanners & it's not what you think...they show thru the clothes, yes but it's not a 'live photo', at least not the one's I've seen being proposed. It's like x-ray. Even if we now hafta be virtually scanned...so what if someone gets embarrassed, that's their problem. The security teams are only doing their jobs & I'm sure they hafta give a background ck before they're hired. These are not perverts getting joy out of patting ppl down to 'cop a feel' or sitting there laughing at someone who is overweight & they can see their fat rolls, they're professional adults like yourself, or at least they should be. I've been patted down before b/c I forgot & wore cargo shorts w/snaps & had to be patted down 'to make sure'. I am female & a female security person patted me down & was very professional & respectful. She didn't 'fondle my butt' or anything else so I'm not sure where you rec'd that info about "extensively feeling butts". They shouldn't "feel you up" at all, I know she didn't "feel ME up." she patted my pocket areas & since I was wearing shorts, she only felt on both sides of my thighs & not "up in the crotch", only up in the crease of where my thighs were, that "V" area; she slid her hand up against my bra under the boob area, on the ribcage area b/c I wear underwire & it sets the alarm off. Her hands did not cup on my boobs or under my clothes, she touched my bra hook area on back briefly as it was a 'target area' that set the hand scanner off b/c we all know, snaps are metal. This was all open palm too, I've never had them use the back of the hand, I've never even seen it done that way when I've traveled at least. It was quick & professional & only lasted a min or two but if you worried that someone will 'fondle' you or your children, ask a female to pat you down if you feel more secure that way or ride the bus or drive. Visit the airport in advance & ask to watch how they 'pat' everyone down but you've been aware of these security measures for quite some time so this shouldn't come as a surprise to you. Again, we should be grateful that the airports are taking extra measures to ck ppl out. We can NEVER tell who's a threat or not & they should never take anyone's word for it that they're okay & not out to cause any trouble. Ppl can be down right sneaky these days w/all the new technologies & everything that's going on in the world today, even using their children as pawns to carry in explosive material...I've read abt that. Regardless of what type of person you are, you're the same as everyone else, including your children. I may be quite obese and a modest person & have nothing to hide but my fat but I wouldn't think twice or hesitate about going thru the scanner or getting patted down. I'm the same as everyone else & should be treated as such & as far as the research you did on CT scans, you're not going to be in there for more than a min I think. I'm sure that yes, there are reprucussions of being exposed to that type of material but I think that has to do w/constant exposure over a long period of time...not 30 seconds to a min for a scan. I think you're getting mixed information & if I'm wrong, then I apologize but I have yet to experience anything but professionalism from the security teams at the many airports I've traveled thru. Best wishes on your trip though. Whatever you decide, I'm sure it'll be fine.
We just do the full body scan.
I have travelled at 4 airports since this has been the policy. The body scans and pat downs are if you don't pass the initial scan. So, until it get changed due to public outrage my advice is to minimize the chance you or your children will not pass the first station. No metal is one easy one, taking child's backpack off and having it to through the scanned is another. One lady insisted her son be able to wear his backpack. If you have or want to travel we have to find a way to comply.
We just flew during the fall time and going through security really wasn't that bad. Where are you reading that they'll have to go through a full body scan? All I remember is going through the normal metal detector that I've always had to go through at the airports. I had my toddler with me and they just had him pass through with mom or dad. As long as they're not carrying anything they won't have to do anything further than walking through the detector.
Should they actually have to do a search on your child, I believe they will allow you to be present for this. I'm sure that even though its all business they will be sensitive to the fact that its a child and the politics of it are different. Just explain to your child that they're doing this to make sure everyone on the plane will be safe.
just make things easy on everybody and go through the scanner. Too many busy bodies telling lies about things (radiation) because they have nothing better to do. It only takes a few seconds and your on your way. It takes an "x-ray" type picture with no face on it and they do not save the scan. The person viewing the scan is in another room so nobody else even sees it. Why put problems and stress on something so trivial? Everybody has to do this. The scanner may be new in some places but being patted down is not. Is your security not important to you?
We will be doing the same thing- traveling. The difference here, is that as a parent you can demand to be present at a physical pat down. As far as I know, not all airports have the new screening yet, so I am not sure your concerns are warranted.
I would tell the kids that the security people are on the *list* of people ok to "touch" them IF you (or Daddy) are there... like doctors. Just tell them that sometimes bad people bring dangerous things on airplanes, and so they have to check everybody so that no one gets hurt.
I think the public outcry from this is going to change what they say is going to happen at airports. People are furious and anyone who is, should be emailing and phone calling their representatives, the TSA offices, Homeland Security, the White House...
We will not be traveling in the near future because of this policy. I am with Suz on this. One more huge, expensive, invasive pain to punish the innocent. Our gov't today recognizes very few of the liberties allowed to US citizens anymore. Don't be quiet about this if you agree.
Some airports have this in, but it is not necessarily up and running yet. While pregnant, I always got the pat down rather than going through the normal x-ray. It really wasn't that invasive, and the people were always pleasant and telling you what they were doing when. You can also go into an enclosed location if you wish. As a parent, you can request to be there, and just tell your child why it is necessary. At 11, they should understand that there are bad people that try to hurt others, and this is a way of making sure that that doesn't happen.
Plus, you get a nice little foot rub. :)
I can understand your concerns but, forgive me, you're making it into more than it is.
Consider this: the radiation amount is exceptionally minimal and unless you're flying on a extremely regular basis (like an airline pilot would do), the exposure is harmless. The images are faceless, like an x-ray with bareless an outline of anything personal. These are NOT like photographic images.
The pat-downs, while personal, are not intimate. These are professionals who have do check thousands of people each and every day. If they get any type of personal enjoyment out of it, I can assure you, they'd lose their job. (Think of your gynecologist: this person sees many women up close and personal because it is their J.O.B.) My family and I travelled back from Europe this summer. We have been through both the scanners and the physical pat-downs (everyone did both, no choice in the matter). The security there used open hands but were very professional, quick but thorough and efficient. I was nearby when both of my pre-teen sons were checked. At no time did anyone in my family feel "groped" or violated.
Bottom line, though, if enduring the full-body scan and pat-downs make it safer for my family and I to fly, and helps catch the people who are determined to do harm, then by all means, scan away. My incovenience is irrelevant to the hundreds of lives that would be lost if just one idiot with ill-intentions is able to get through under the pretense of a violation of privacy.
I think the full body scans will be quicker than the pat down, and I believe that only the guards will see the result. If possible, always make sure that an adult in your party goes through the security scan prior to a child and one after. If you child gets stopped for pat down, but you haven't gone through yet, they should ask if you are the responsible adult and have you watch the pat down.
I just got back from NYC a couple of days ago and they don't have the full body scan at security at the Austin airport or at Newark (still using the regular metal detectors). I would check the airport at your destination to see if they have implemented it yet. It might save you some worry.
If you are worried about the radiation then you should not fly because the backscatter scanner is equal to the same exposure you get for 2 minutes of flight and you should not use a cell phone because the millimeter one thousands less then a cell phone
http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2010/11/rabid_racc...
And I think you are making too much out of the image its not like its a nude photo there is no face and just an outline of the body.
http://www.tsa.gov/approach/tech/ait/how_it_works.shtm
I'm sure families of the victims of 9/11 don't mind seeing these safety measures taken. If these scans stop 1 terrorist I am all for it! If you don't like it there are other transportation alternatives. You can take a train, a bus, or drive. I have never flown and never will I am terrified of just the thought of being a plane but if I ever got up the nerve to I would have no problem going through a scan or getting a thorough pat down. If I worked in an airport I would be very suspicious of those refusing the scan.
