TSA Confiscates Pregnant Woman's Insulin, Ice Packs

[The Straight Story]

TSA Confiscates Pregnant Woman's Insulin, Ice Packs

Security Tells Woman Isulin Vial Was An Explosives Risk


DENVER -- Aaron Nieman is frustrated, after his pregnant wife's insulin and ice packs were confiscated by TSA screeners at Denver International Airport on Thursday afternoon.

The couple has traveled around the world with her supplies and have never encountered any troubles before.
"It made me feel upset and made me feel somewhat helpless," he said.

...

"He's like well, you're a risk. It's like excuse me. And he's like. This is a risk, for I can't tell you why again. But this is at risk for explosives,” she told 7NEWS.

She say she was never told her insulin was taken.
"I got a bottle of nail polish. I got hair spray bottles. I got needles that are syringes. But yet I can't take through my actual insulin,” she said.

[sharp_stick]

1. They've gotten so bloody ridiculous

it's almost funny.

The ice-packs they consider an explosive risk because they contain a gel substance and some dude once tried to complete a gel bomb on a flight...ergo all gels are now verboten. You can't even bring Dr. Scholls gel insoles in your shoes anymore.

The insulin itself, I have no idea what they think that can do but somebody probably once considered bringing a poison onto a plane in an injection vial so now... no vials of medicine.

I was kind of scared earlier this year when some surgeon proposed the idea of internally placing explosives in suicide bombers... visions of cavity searches and MRI scans at the security checkpoints made me think you'll soon have to start arrived 3 days ahead of your flight to complete the medical screening.

[enlightenment]

2. That is completely against policy.

Additionally, we are continuing to permit prescription liquid medications and other liquids needed by persons with disabilities and medical conditions. This includes:

All prescription and over-the-counter medications (liquids, gels, and aerosols) including petroleum jelly, eye drops, and saline solution for medical purposes;
Liquids including water, juice, or liquid nutrition or gels for passengers with a disability or medical condition;
Life-support and life-sustaining liquids such as bone marrow, blood products, and transplant organs;
Items used to augment the body for medical or cosmetic reasons such as mastectomy products, prosthetic breasts, bras or shells containing gels, saline solution, or other liquids; and,
Frozen items are allowed as long as they are frozen solid when presented for screening. If frozen items are partially melted, slushy, or have any liquid at the bottom of the container, they must meet 3-1-1 requirements.

However, if the liquid medications are in volumes larger than 3.4 ounces (100ml) each, they may not be placed in the quart-size bag and must be declared to the Transportation Security Officer. A declaration can be made verbally, in writing, or by a person's companion, caregiver, interpreter, or family member.

Declared liquid medications and other liquids for disabilities and medical conditions must be kept separate from all other property submitted for x-ray screening.

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/specialneeds/index.shtm

Do they train these people at all?

[Gormy Cuss]

7. Yes, it is.

Perhaps this bad person ..er, passenger didn't have rock solid ice packs or she didn't make the proper declaration or present them separately. It's up to travelers to understand the rules and up to the TSA to enforce them blindly. Therefore, it's too damn bad for her. :sarcasm:

[DevonRex]

10. I actually carry a copy of that and a copy of my Rx

for my immunoglobulin. And a copy of my list of supplies that I get from the specialty pharmacy. Just in case

[gratuitous]

3. If she wanted to travel, why did she get diabetes?

I'm like, it's so simple. And she's like, you know? And I'm all like, tcha! So she goes all like frayed knot. So like the only thing I can go like is no way, and she's all like anh!

[Chimichurri]

4. That's cruel and unnecessary. I'm convinced some TSA agents get high off their power.

[Maru Kitteh]

5. It's like they're actually trying to kill someone.

[DevonRex]

6. Wow. I travel with vials packed in ice packs.

It keeps me alive. I've never had a problem before. But I can see an untrained TSA agent doing this.

[kenny blankenship]

8. This is why the Police State needs to develop a eugenics program -

so it can avoid these embarrassing and inefficient episodes. Those who've already been born but who are unsightly or disturbing to look at, those who're crippled or otherwise unfit to fly, along with those who are politically suspect, can be kept in camps among others like themselves where they'll be happier and have no need for air travel. And be prevented from breeding.

A State that aspires to perfect Security must also have perfect Efficiency and therefore perfect Health! It must be free of defects in both Body and Mind. It must become wholesome in its morals and right thinking in its politics. It must purge itself of all imperfection and unsightliness.

[MedicalAdmin]

17. OMG - I love this idea.

Yes, let's genetically modify the serfs for stronger back and weaker minds.

[ProfessionalLeftist]

9. That is absolutely against policy. No liquids over 3 or so ounces are allowed EXCEPT

if it is medicated or medications that are needed by the passenger. Insulin would fall into that category. Some TSA agent needs to be fired.

[formercia]

11. It's the Ice Packs

They usually contain a banned substance.

[DevonRex]

12. No, the ice packs are perfectly okay. The agent was dead wrong. Nt

[formercia]

13. I disagree.

but I won't discuss the particulars here.

If someone needs an Ice Pack. All they have to do is ask the Crew. No need to bring one on board.

[DevonRex]

14. See post #2. I travel with vials and ice packs all the time. Nt

[Boudica the Lyoness]

18. That makes no sense!

How are you supposed to keep your meds cool until you get on the plane? In some countries ice packs are not available, so you have nothing to refreeze when you get there.

I'm too fucking clever for this country. I feel like I'm actually in the movie 'Idiocracy' now....only it's not a movie anymore.

[formercia]

19. Ice.

I know it's messy, but it works.

[Boudica the Lyoness]

22. It really doesn't work

I can imagine plastic bags of melting ice leaking into things....who's to say it's not really a deadly substance...many dangerous liquids freeze.

Why make life so bloody difficult for people?

[formercia]

23. England shipped their unwanted Rabble to the Colonies

and now it's coming back to haunt them.

[Boudica the Lyoness]

24. I don't know what to say to that...

So here's a blue box :bluebox:

[CreekDog]

25. you're wrong... you're confidence notwithstanding

Or they wouldn't have taken her insulin

[dgibby]

20. Insulin has to be kept constantly cool.

That's generallly what the ice packs are for.

[nadinbrzezinski]

21. Nope and my dad travelled with that crap too

never had an issue...

This is against their stated policy, and wrong at multiple levels,

TSA needs to be sued over this one on attempted murder charges.

[Dawson Leery]

15. The TSA will join the DEA in fleecing the taxpayers for providing

and unnecessary service.

[kenny blankenship]

16. But they do relieve us of our rights and dignity, as well as the feeling that

as citizens, we have any control over or responsibility for what our government does.

So you can't say they do NOTHING for the money.