... violated?
I'm sure many of you have at least heard about the new full body scanners that are part of airport security. If not, here's the Transportation Security Administration's info page about them: http://www.tsa.gov/approach/tech/ait/index.shtm.
There's a lot of public outcry about these scanners. Here's a list of complaints and links.
They produce an image of you beneath your clothes; aka in your birthday suit. http://www.mahalo.com/full-body-scanner-images This article shows some of the images captured by the scanners. Images that are supposed to be immediately deleted after you pass through security. Apparently not, since they're on the internet. And here's a list of airports that use the full body scanners.
They emit radiation. But how much? Well, it's enough that they won't put the pilots though it-- granted, they would have to go through multiple times a day and be exposed significantly more than a casual traveler who only flies on holidays or for vacation a few times a year.http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1290527/Airport-body-scanners-deliver-radiation-dose-20-times-higher-thought.html This article seemed to present a balanced presentation of what the TSA says, and what researchers are currently looking into. What stands out to me is "skin cancer" and "children are more vulnerable" to the radiation. I'm not sure I want my munchkin exposed to that... especially when the professional jury is still out on determining it's safety.
You're allowed to "opt out" of the scanners, but what happens next if you do is humiliating. You become subject to an "enhanced pat-down" procedure. This goes for anyone with a medical concern who must opt out, to conscious objectors to the scanners. The new pat down procedure really makes one feel physically violated. http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/tsa-responds-passenger-outrages-underwear-search-happen/story?id=12208932&page=2.
I had to be pat-down once about 3 years ago because I was wearing an underwire bra and apparently my pants had these little, i think they are called eyelets?, metal circle thing on the corners of my pockets... she ran the baton scanner thingy over me, found nothing, but still had to pat me down where the thing dected metal, aka, my butt and below my breasts. It was very embarrassing, awkward, and uncomfortable. And that was before they instituted the new "ENHANCED" pat-down, which you can see in the video that's linked with my article, that's it's more like getting felt up. Ugh!
I don't want me or munchkin to get felt up, but I don't want, at least, munchkin to get exposed to the radiation of the scanners either, at least not with a confirmed-after-much-research that they are safe even for very small children. With my family's history with cancer, I don't want to risk exposing munchkin to more than necessary. Plus there's the possibility that we'd get "selected for a random pat-down." It happens to my uncle ALL the TIME; i guess he fits one of the profiles that doesn't come through often. Is there a list somewhere of the profiles they are required to "randomly search"? Does it include a breastfeeding mother? Will I get pat-down anyway because my nursing bras have metal clips? or because the full body scanners notice my nursing covers beneath my bra? or because i'm carrying babyfood? After seeing what happened to this woman (http://www.mnn.com/family/raising-a-family/blogs/watch-tsa-harasses-mom-over-breast-milk), I'm afraid to pump milk to feed munchkin during the flight.
What I'm trying to say is; I'm really freaking stressing out about flying home for Christmas. Is my stress and anxiety for nothing. The TSA website would have me believe so, but many accounts on the news make me believe otherwise. What do you guys think? Are you traveling this Christmas? What do you think of the new scanners? Are they unconstitutional, like some groups say, or are they appropriate safety measures, like the TSA says? Have any of you traveled with little ones recently and could give me advice?
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