Traveling with CPAP

[lmoretti]

My friend had the TSA agent refuse to change gloves/swabs when checking his CPAP for explosives. He was NOT happy.

The technical literature says you "can ask", not that they have to agree to change gloves/swabs.

[SuperSleeper]

My friend had the TSA agent refuse to change gloves/swabs when checking his CPAP for explosives. He was NOT happy.

The technical literature says you "can ask", not that they have to agree to change gloves/swabs.

We need people to stand up to these TSA Nazis. Too many of them have some sort of twisted "control issue" that makes them "feel important" when inconveniencing passengers - gives them a sick power trip.

Contaminating a passenger's medical device with a gloves and swabs that's been used to touch and swab hundreds of other devices and containers is just plain hazardous to one's health. I would insist that they change gloves and if they don't, demand to see the supervisor, and tell them that if they don't comply, you will be calling the health department to have their operation shut down, or I'd threaten to sue them, or both.

Sorry, just PO'd at TSA agent's nazi-like control-freak behavior these days. I know they're not all like that, but too many are, and no in charge seems to do anything about it.

[wxmcpo]

I just traveled with my machine from Hawaii to Norfolk, VA and back. Leaving Hawaii I was just asked to put the CPAP bag (without removing the machine) into it's own bin. Leaving Hawaii I was asked to remove the machine from the bag and place it in it's own bin. Different airports seem to have different rules, but TSA agents at neither airport actually touched or inspected the machine.

[WSHenry]

I agree with all of you that posted that the machine should travel onboard. I carry a letter from my Sleep Doc stating I need the machine for medical reasons and that I be allowed safe passage with the unit however I'm traveling.

As for the TSA, they make the daily rules. I'm a "trusted traveler", but have still experienced everything from having to take the unit out of the bag and place it in a bin for x-ray to keep everything packed up and come on through, less your shoes. There is no rhyme nor reason for the daily rule changes. It seems that it's at the discretion of the "officer".

Do we have anyone out there with the TSA or Homeland Security that can dispute this?