Travel Security Safeguards for Seniors

Travel season is coming and if you are a senior or disabled person with special needs here is some important airport security information that may help you get through the long lines. The TSA has given an overview at their website of acceptable equipment and allowances to assist your travel arrangements. Passenger security is more important than anything else, but your personal ease and speed through the detectors can be helped by following the TSA's guidelines.

It goes without saying that firearms, explosives and other self-defense items are not allowed on board, but many other items are excluded that you may not have considered before like sporting goods and camping gear such as flares and pellet guns, dangerous chemicals like pool chlorine and liquid bleach, and most sharp objects. It appears tiny scissors are now acceptable, but snow globes, gel shoe inserts and spillable batteries are not. They do make an exception however for batteries or tools that go with wheelchairs.

Many folks today are "bionic" or biologically engineered. If you have a pacemaker, it is recommended but not required that you carry your pacemaker ID card with you. Implants, staples, sutures and other reconstruction like metal rods and plates inside knees and hips may set off the alarms. You will be escorted to a private area for further screening, so it is helpful if the examiner understands why you "beeped" without disclosing your entire medical history. If you are suffering from sensitivity to certain body areas, let the examiner know so that they can do an inspection using the electronic wand rather than a pat-down. Let them know if the wand could affect any internal electronic medical devices.

Orthopedic shoes are allowed with permission as well as service animals and personal oxygen. You may be asked to fill out disclosure forms regarding necessary medical equipment or supplies. It may also be important for them to know if your oxygen cannot or should not be disconnected or if you have an assistant meeting you. Other declared items would include precription liquid medications or water, prosthetics and cooling or heating gel packs. They can arrange for special situations such as for the terminally ill or those en route to medical facilities or carrying blood supplies.

If your travel plans include crossing the Canadian or Mexican borders by car, you may want to consider getting an Enhanced Driver License which acts as both identification and passport. These are encouraged in such states as Arizona, California, Michigan, Texas, Vermont and Washington. The cards contain a radio frequency ID chip and/or machine readable bar code which assists border patrol in security and identification of travelers.