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airport security

Posted , 22 users are following.

paul170864
paul170864

Hi

?I am lucky enough to be flying away on a short holiday in November. I live in the UK and have heard I need a card informing security that I have two new metal hips so I can avoid setting off alarms on the metal detector machine. Does anyone have any advice on where I can get this please. The doctors surgery says it isn't something they provide.

paul

 

1 like, 43 replies

43 Replies

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  • maureen24786
    maureen24786 paul170864

    Posted

    The hospital should definitely provide this. I was given a credit card size laminated photo of my new hip & it's components by the surgeon. Only they know what the components are

  • Pippyj
    Pippyj paul170864

    Posted

    I flew last month - short haul and didn’t have any documentation. I simply told them I had a new hip.  I set off the alarm of course and they simply body scanned me with a hand held scanner.  No problems.
  • clare83752
    clare83752 paul170864

    Posted

    HI I was given mine by the hospital but u could always ask your GP for a letter saying that u have had a hip replacement my daughter has a rid in her back and just tells them and they are fine with that 
  • auntiebeanie
    auntiebeanie paul170864

    Posted

    Paul, not all hospitals give you a card. i got a copy of the letter the surgeon sent my GP, was free just asked at reception.  When I fly, i always keep that letter with my passport, however. I have not set off many detectors. Some airports if you tell them will tell you to go around the first scanner and go into the full body scanner Perth Australia told me to do this, in this country though they still make you go through the first one but i have not managed to set one off yet! Abu Dharbi in transit set off he scanners both times and had to go into a tent being a woman, i just shocked the female staff, by hoisitng my skirt up and said looks there's my scar lol! 

  • miriamal49
    miriamal49 paul170864

    Posted

    They should at least give you a business card with their testimony that you do have metal prosthetics, their signature with their phone! 
  • RichardKen
    RichardKen paul170864

    Posted

    Dear Paul

    That seems a bit far fetched to me.   All I did was say that I've got an artificial hip, anyway it is so obvious to them when they look at their screen<G>

    Enjoy your holls.

    Cheers

    Richard

  • kelly1205
    kelly1205 paul170864

    Posted

    I was given a card from the hospital when I was discharged , funny thing is I didn't even need it at the airport. The screeners only show skin , not below ...did not have to go through metal detector ...

    • RichardKen
      RichardKen kelly1205

      Posted

      Dear Kelly

      When I flew from the UK to Spain some years ago the staff could clearly see the metal in my hip.   How else would they be able to detect guns and knives?

      Cheers

      Richard

    • kelly1205
      kelly1205 RichardKen

      Posted

      Hi Richard, I didn't have to walk through the metal detector only the full body scanner which doesn't show through the skin...

    • RichardKen
      RichardKen kelly1205

      Posted

      Dear Kelly

      OK I understand now, thanks for explaining.

      Cheers Richard

  • dalmation
    dalmation paul170864

    Posted

    I always set off airport alarms now after having 2 hips and a knee done!! To be honest in these days  of heightened security I think they will always put you through a full body scanner as I would imagine the cards and Drs letters can easily be forged. It's never taken much longer and I've always told them I have a lot of metal work before walking through. Never been any issues and I would much rather be safe on a flight knowing security haven't just waved people through who set off an alarm saying it's my metal hip or metal knee!! Enjoy your holiday 

    • miriamal49
      miriamal49 dalmation

      Posted

      I still carry the card my dr gave. I have to go to the court house all the time. They don’t have sophisticated scanners you just walk thru a metal detector. When it sounds they put the wand scanner around hips and they know. It always pays to be safe.
  • cormacrobert
    cormacrobert paul170864

    Posted

    I live in the US and was given a credit like card to show at airports if I need to from my surgeons assistant. However, I just flew for the first time since my THR and went through the full body scanner (not metal detector) and I set the thing off. It showed I had something right at the hip I had replaced but of course there was nothing in my pockets. I told the guy that I had a metal hip but he said this is not a metal detector. Hmmmm. If it happens again, I think that it would be fairly conclusive to surmise that it is the metal hip setting it off. I'll let you know.

    • RichardKen
      RichardKen cormacrobert

      Posted

      I wonder what on earth the guy thought he was detecting.   He does not sound like the sharpest knife in the drawer <BG>

      Cheers

      Richard

  • steve86482
    steve86482 paul170864

    Posted

    In the USA the card is worthless as it is easy to fake. Just tell them you have a hip replacement. Also, they will see it in the Circular scanner or wand you and pat you down. No big deal. Have a great flight 
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