I have sleep apnea which means that for the last seven years I have slept with the assistance of a C-PAP (I can't even remember what the initials stand for other than "Continuous Pressure..."). The C-PAP maintains pressure in my throat via a mask I wear over my nose so that my air passage remains open all night. Without the C-PAP I wake up hundreds of times a night gasping for air because my air passage has closed and I am unable to get air.
When I first was diagnosed with Apnea the doctor told me that I should never check the C-PAP but to always pack in my carry-on when I traveled and that every security person in the world knew what the C-PAP was so it wouldn't be a problem. That of course was before the September 11 terrorists attacks. Actually even with all the restrictions on carry-on luggage after 9-11 the most I ever got was the question, "Do you have a C-PAP in your backpack?" and when I said "yes" I was told to "go ahead" - no problem. The only exception was the Frankfurt Germany airport. Every time I flew there they would pull my bag, send me to Security and I would have my bag searched and the C-PAP removed and swabbed for gunpowder residue.
That was until July 2006. I'm not sure what happened but since last July EVERY TIME I have checked in at an airport in the US, Canada, Germany, Singapore, etc. I have had the extra attention and the swab for gun powder. I've tried taking it out of my carry-on like I do with my computer but it still leads to a gunpowder swab. Two weeks ago I asked the TSA agent, "Could you explain why the C-PAP is suspicious for gun powder?" She said that she did not know but their instructions were to always swab C-PAPs!
When did people with breathing difficulties become a security risk? Does having sleep apnea make a person more likely to be sneaking gun powder on board a flight or more likely to be a terrorist? Actually without the C-PAP I tend to be really grumpy the next day but a terrorist?
Cargo loaded without inspection but people with apnea (generally older and over weight) singled out for more detailed inspection and gun powder checks?! I'm not feeling more secure!
When I first was diagnosed with Apnea the doctor told me that I should never check the C-PAP but to always pack in my carry-on when I traveled and that every security person in the world knew what the C-PAP was so it wouldn't be a problem. That of course was before the September 11 terrorists attacks. Actually even with all the restrictions on carry-on luggage after 9-11 the most I ever got was the question, "Do you have a C-PAP in your backpack?" and when I said "yes" I was told to "go ahead" - no problem. The only exception was the Frankfurt Germany airport. Every time I flew there they would pull my bag, send me to Security and I would have my bag searched and the C-PAP removed and swabbed for gunpowder residue.
That was until July 2006. I'm not sure what happened but since last July EVERY TIME I have checked in at an airport in the US, Canada, Germany, Singapore, etc. I have had the extra attention and the swab for gun powder. I've tried taking it out of my carry-on like I do with my computer but it still leads to a gunpowder swab. Two weeks ago I asked the TSA agent, "Could you explain why the C-PAP is suspicious for gun powder?" She said that she did not know but their instructions were to always swab C-PAPs!
When did people with breathing difficulties become a security risk? Does having sleep apnea make a person more likely to be sneaking gun powder on board a flight or more likely to be a terrorist? Actually without the C-PAP I tend to be really grumpy the next day but a terrorist?
Cargo loaded without inspection but people with apnea (generally older and over weight) singled out for more detailed inspection and gun powder checks?! I'm not feeling more secure!
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