Set Alarms Off When Shopping

Hi Anna:  You're not going crazy.  My doctor's office told me yes, I will set off metal detectors.  So far all I've done is told the attendants I have an artificial hip joint and they waive me on.  I also carry with me a copy of my operative report in case anyone wants "proof."  Best ~ Janet

Haven't set any off with my hip but on two occasions in the past I have had purses with hidden tags in them that only started setting alarms off months after I started using them. Both times I went to security desks and asked them to find the tags and they did. They were small black plastic tags and really difficult to find. They only set off alarms in certain shops like Tesco and Zara but it was really annoying. 

Cheers

Ann

Anna

It depends. Some airports now have a glass box that rotates around you and that seems to know about THR's but the archway things don't. Last summer I beeped so had to be searched. Unfortunately I was wearing a pair of shorts 4 ins too big held up with a belt (which I had removed) and I nearly lost them when he felt round my waistband :-)

Mike

Hi Anna, 

To date, I have not yet tripped alarms in any stores!  However, I read where if you go through an airport security, it will trip the alarm.  So I’m told you should warn them before that it could go off and go from there, so the “whole security force will nit come down on you!!!!

Steve

I'm surprised you manage to trigger shop security systems as they are generally based on small radio frequency tags (RFID's) that are attached to goods and which are detected by the scanners at the store outlets. Unless your new hip is somehow picking up and transmitting a radio frequency then it's a bit puzzling. There may be some store systems based on metal detection but these would be much rarer and less efficient than the RFID system.

Airport security is another matter where they are looking specifically for metal objects. I think it all depends on how sensitively the scanners are set whether they will pick up titanium in your prosthesis. I suppose in that case it's best to carry some proof of your medical history to avoid any embarrassing moments

Never. With the exception of Airport security. 

I have a hip and a knee. I set off alarms at sports events. Have not flown, so don’t know about that. No alarms set off at supermarkets of malls yet. 

No not yet. How fun!!! 

Not had any problems in shops, but I now get stopped and frisked every time I go through airport security.

Airport security when they insisted I walk through the metal detector, even though I told them I had a double hip replacement, they then asked me to go though the x-ray unit, glass box, as I stepped out, the guy said wow double Huh, nice picture I said in reply, yes to said.

?Husband who has pacemaker, and have been advised by Dr's at the hospital, his words NO WAY, would he walk through a metal detector at the airport, has had more problems, as they try to pressure you into walking through detectors, even though he produced hospital and maker of pacemaker cards they did not seem to realize what they were, very frustrating and annoying, in the end I said to the supervisor of machine, you willing to put your house on the machine not turning off his pacemaker because if anything happens you will be talking to the most nasty lawyer I can find, HUMPMMMH, and he said go through without being scanned and opening the gate himself.

Hi Anna

What fun!  I have only had alarms going bezerk at airports, not stores!  Interesting that a note from my surgeon does not get recognised overseas as they say I can create this myself.  Usually full scan and eye recognition technology in USA.  Whatever you do in USA, dont reach for you things on the conveyor belt if the alarms have gone off or the security guards come rushing with hands ready to draw a weapon....happened to me and was frightening.

Sounds like we got some shop lifting hippies. 🤔 I haven't had the chance to test metal detectors yet. But can ask this question? I own a small steel fabricating company and I am a little worried about working near the magnets we use to lift steel? I have the newer striker hip. Does anyone know if these things are magnetic??