Disabilities and Medical Conditions

Inform the TSA Officer

Before the screening begins, inform the TSA officer if you have a bandage, compression sleeve or dressing.

Screening in Standard Lanes

Your bandage, compression sleeve or dressing is subject to additional screening, including inspection, hand-held metal detector screening, a test of your hands and a test of the medical item device for any trace of explosives.  

Screening in TSA PreCheck® Lanes

Additional screening is required if your bandage, compression sleeve or dressing alarms in the Walk-through Metal Detector (WTMD) or AIT. If required, the TSA officer will direct you to conduct a self-pat down of the medical item, test your hands for any trace of explosives and conduct hand-held metal detector screening on the medical item.

Inform the TSA Officer

Inform the TSA officer if you are blind or have low vision and require assistance with the screening process.

Screening

White canes, Braille note-takers and other aids must undergo X-ray screening. A TSA officer will inspect the item if it cannot fit through the X-ray machine. Notify the TSA officer if you need to be immediately reunited with the device after it is screened by X-ray.

Inform the TSA Officer

Inform the TSA officer if you are deaf or hard of hearing and require assistance with the screening process.

Screening

You are not required to remove any hearing aids or cochlear implants. Additional screening, including a pat-down or inspection of a device, may be required if your medical device alarms in the WTMD or AIT.

Fragile medical materials consist of, but are not limited to: blood, human organs, bone marrow, skin, human embryos, and eyeballs. We recognize that pre-arrangement may not be always possible, due to last minute scheduling for transportation of fragile medical materials. To allow us to assist you better, we ask medical couriers to request assistance from a supervisor or Passenger Support Specialist (PSS) upon arrival at the checkpoint.

TSA will review the documentation provided by the courier and ensure that the aircraft operator has been properly notified. The medical documentation provided by the courier may indicate what screening procedures and/or technologies may negatively affect the materials.  Screening may consist of a visual inspection and physical search on the outside of the container, and Explosive Trace Detection testing. We will not open or ask you to open the container.

In some cases, you can have pre-arrangement with TSA by contacting TSA Cares, which coordinates communication between the courier and local TSA airport.  Upon notification from TSA Cares, local TSA management will be notified and will assign a PSS to assist the courier through the checkpoint screening process.  Once the material has been verified, and travel documents and medical documentation have been reviewed, the fragile medical material and courier will be provided assistance by a supervisor or PSS through the screening process, in an expeditious manner, to ensure no damage to the material.

Inform the TSA Officer

Inform the TSA officer if you have any metal implants, a bone growth stimulator, a pacemaker, defibrillator, or other internal medical devices.

Screening

You should not be screened by the WTMD if you have an internal medical device such as a pacemaker. Consult with your physician prior to flying.

If you choose to not be screened by the AIT or you alarm the WTMD, the TSA officer will conduct a pat-down.

Inform the TSA Officer

Before screening begins, inform the TSA officer about the location of an insulin pump, glucose monitor or other medical device attached to your body.

You will not be required to remove medical devices attached to your body. However, disconnected devices may be screened by X-ray. Inform the TSA officer if you do not want your device screened by X-ray. Alternative screening will be conducted.

Screening in Standard Lanes

If your insulin pump or glucose monitor is attached to your body, the device is subject to additional screening, to include a self pat-down of the medical device and a test of your hands for any trace of explosives.

Screening in TSA PreCheck® Lanes

Additional screening is only required if your insulin pump or glucose monitor alarms in the WTMD or AIT. If required, the TSA officer will direct you to pat-down the medical device and will test your hands for any trace of explosives.

Medications in pill or other solid forms must undergo security screening. You can facilitate this screening by clearly labeling medication.

Medication can undergo a visual or X-ray screening and may be tested for traces of explosives.

Inform the TSA Officer

Before the screening begins, inform the TSA officer that you have medically necessary liquids and/or medications. Place them in a bin or bowl separate from other property, along with accessories associated with your liquid medication such as freezer packs, IV bags, pumps and syringes.

3-1-1 Liquids Rule Exemption

TSA allows larger amounts of medically necessary liquids, gels, and aerosols in reasonable quantities for your flight, but you must declare them to TSA officers at the checkpoint for inspection.

Remove medically necessary items from your carry-on bag, and place them in a bin or bowl. If a medically necessary liquid, gel, or aerosol alarms additional screening will be required. If the alarm cannot be resolved, the item may not be allowed.

Accessories

Ice packs, freezer packs, gel packs and other accessories may be presented at the screening checkpoint in a frozen, partially frozen or melted state to keep medically necessary items cool. All items, including supplies associated with medically necessary liquids such as IV bags, pumps and syringes must be screened before they will be permitted into the secure area of the airport.

Screening

TSA officers may test liquids, gels or aerosols for explosives or concealed prohibited items. If officers are unable to use screening technology to clear these items, you may be asked to open them for Vapor Analysis. Screening will never include placing anything into the medically necessary liquid.

Inform the TSA officer if you do not want your liquid medication to be screened by X-ray or opened. Additional steps will be taken to clear the liquid, and you or the traveling guardian will undergo additional screening procedures, which may include AIT screening, a pat-down, and additional screening of your carry-on property.

Inform the TSA Officer

Inform the TSA officer of your ability to walk or stand independently before screening. If you have difficulty standing, you may ask for a chair or you may request to be screened while seated in your wheelchair or scooter.

• Aids: Walkers, crutches, walking canes or other mobility aids and devices must undergo X-ray screening. A TSA officer will inspect the item if it cannot fit through the X-ray. Notify the TSA officer if you need to be immediately reunited with the device after it is screened by X-ray.
• Wheelchairs and Scooters: TSA officers will screen wheelchairs and scooters to include the seat cushions and any non-removable pouches or fanny packs. Items will be tested for traces of explosives, and removable items will undergo X-ray screening. The TSA officer will physically inspect the cushion(s) to the extent possible and may use other screening methods to clear your cushion(s).

Screening in Standard Lanes

If you are able to stand and walk, you will be screened by technology. If you are ineligible for screening by technology, a pat-down will be conducted.

If you are 75 years of age or older in a wheelchair or scooter, you may remain seated and the TSA officer will conduct a test of your hands for trace of explosives.

Screening in TSA PreCheck® Lanes

If you are unable to stand or walk, you may remain seated in your mobility device and the TSA officer will conduct a test of your hands for any trace of explosives.

Inform the TSA Officer

You may inform the TSA officer that you have a medical condition if assistance or screening modification is needed during the screening process.

Screening

Passengers with non-visible disabilities and medical conditions such as Alzheimer's, autism spectrum disorder, and dementia can be screened without being separated from their traveling companion. If a companion provides assistance during screening, they will need to be rescreened. 

Resources:

TravelingWiki.com: Wiki for Autism Resources at U.S. Airports

Inform the TSA Officer

Before screening begins, inform the TSA officer about the location of an ostomy pouch, medical ports or catheter attached to your body.

Screening in Standard and TSA PreCheck® Lanes

You can be screened without having to remove or expose the ostomy pouch, medical ports or catheter.

If additional screening is required, you will be asked to conduct a self-pat down of the device outside of your clothing, followed by a test of your hands for any trace of explosives, and you may also undergo a pat-down of areas that will not include the medical device.
 

Inform the TSA Officer

Before screening begins, inform the TSA officer about the location of a prosthesis, cast, support brace, sling or support appliance. 

You may voluntarily remove your prosthesis, cast, support brace, sling or support appliance prior to screening and submit it for X-ray screening.

Screening in Standard Lanes

Your prosthesis, cast, support brace, sling or support appliance is subject to additional screening, including inspection, hand-held metal detector screening, a test of your hands, and a test of the medical device for trace of explosives. If your support brace alarms during this process, it must be removed for X-ray screening.

Screening in TSA PreCheck® Lanes

Additional screening is required if your prosthesis, cast, support brace, sling or support appliance sets of the alarms in the WTMD or AIT. If required, the TSA officer will direct you to conduct a self-pat down of the medical device, test your hands for trace of explosives, and conduct hand-held metal detector screening on the medical device.

Inform the TSA Officer

Before screening begins, inform the TSA officer if you have recently undergone medical procedures involving radioactive materials or have a radioactive medical implant.

Screening in Standard and TSA PreCheck® Lanes

Radioactive medication must undergo screening. 

Contact the Airline

Not all airlines allow the use of portable oxygen concentrators. Check with your airline before flying. Also check with the manufacturer to determine whether the oxygen concentrator is approved for in-flight use.

Inform the TSA Officer

Inform the TSA officer that you have a portable oxygen concentrator and whether you can disconnect during the screening process.

Consult your doctor to determine whether you can safely disconnect during screening.

Screening in Standard and TSA PreCheck® Lanes

If you are able to disconnect from the concentrator, submit it for X-ray screening and continue to the AIT or WTMD.

If you must remain connected, your equipment will be tested for traces of explosives material.

Standard screening

Nebulizers, CPAPs, BiPAPs, and APAPs

Nebulizers, CPAPs, BiPAPs and APAPs as well as facemasks and tubing may remain in their carrying case for X-ray screening, but may be required to be removed from the carry-on.

Precheck screening

Nebulizers, CPAPs, BiPAPs and APAPs as well as facemasks and tubing may remain in their carrying case, and in the carry-on, for X-ray screening.

Liquids associated with the nebulizer are exempt from the 3-1-1 liquids rule.

Inform the TSA Officer

Inform the TSA officer about your service animal.

Screening in Standard and TSA PreCheck® Lanes

You and your service animal will be screened by the WTMD. You may walk through together or you may lead the animal through separately on a leash. If you alarm the WTMD, you and your service animal will undergo additional screening, including a pat-down.

For metal detector screening, please consider using items (harness, vest, or leash) on your service animals that have little to no metal.

If you opt not to be screened by the WTMD, you and your service animal will undergo a pat-down.

TSA will not separate you from your service animal.

Accessories

Service animal collars, harnesses, leashes, backpacks, vests and other items are subject to screening. Please consider using items that have little to no metal. Items that are necessary to maintain control of the service animal do not need to be removed.

If you need to relieve your service animal and exit the security checkpoint, you and the service animal will need to go through the screening process again. Request to move to the front of the line upon your return.

Medication for service animals must go through X-ray or inspection screening. Please separate medications and inform the TSA officer that you carry these items for your service animal.