- Jul 13, 2005
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This is what happens when you have people who barely graduated high school in charge of our nations airport security----
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40291856/ns/travel-news/?GT1=43001
A retired special education teacher on his way to a wedding in Orlando, Fla., said he was left humiliated, crying and covered with his own urine after an enhanced pat-down by TSA officers recently at Detroit Metropolitan Airport.
I was absolutely humiliated, I couldnt even speak, said Thomas D. Tom Sawyer, 61, of Lansing, Mich.
Sawyer is a bladder cancer survivor who now wears a urostomy bag, which collects his urine from a stoma, or opening in his stomach. I have to wear special clothes and in order to mount the bag I have to seal a wafer to my stomach and then attach the bag. If the seal is broken, urine can leak all over my body and clothes.
On Nov. 7, Sawyer said he went through the security scanner at Detroit Metropolitan Airport. Evidently the scanner picked up on my urostomy bag, because I was chosen for a pat-down procedure.
Due to his medical condition, Sawyer asked to be screened in private. One officer looked at another, rolled his eyes and said that they really didnt have any place to take me, said Sawyer. After I said again that Id like privacy, they took me to an office.
Sawyer wears pants two sizes too large in order to accommodate the medical equipment he wears. Hed taken off his belt to go through the scanner and once in the office with security personnel, his pants fell down around his ankles. I had to ask twice if it was OK to pull up my shorts, said Sawyer, And every time I tried to tell them about my medical condition, they said they didnt need to know about that.
efore starting the enhanced pat-down procedure, a security officer did tell him what they were going to do and how they were going to it, but Sawyer said it wasnt until they asked him to remove his sweatshirt and saw his urostomy bag that they asked any questions about his medical condition.
One agent watched as the other used his flat hand to go slowly down my chest. I tried to warn him that he would hit the bag and break the seal on my bag, but he ignored me. Sure enough, the seal was broken and urine started dribbling down my shirt and my leg and into my pants.
The security officer finished the pat-down, tested the gloves for any trace of explosives and then, Sawyer said, He told me I could go. They never apologized. They never offered to help. They acted like they hadnt seen what happened. But I know they saw it because I had a wet mark.
Humiliated, upset and wet, Sawyer said he had to walk through the airport soaked in urine, board his plane and wait until after takeoff before he could clean up.
I am totally appalled by the fact that agents that are performing these pat-downs have so little concern for people with medical conditions, said Sawyer.
Vote: What do you think about "opt out" day?
Sawyer completed his trip and had no problems with the security procedures at the Orlando International Airport on his journey back home. He said he plans to file a formal complaint with the TSA.
When he does, said TSA spokesperson Dwayne Baird, We will review the matter and take appropriate action if necessary. In the meantime, Baird encourages anyone with a medical condition to read the TSAs website section on assistive devices and mobility aids.
The website says that travelers with disabilities and medical conditions have the option of requesting a private screening and that security officers will not ask nor require you to remove your prosthetic device, cast, or support brace.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40291856/ns/travel-news/?GT1=43001
A retired special education teacher on his way to a wedding in Orlando, Fla., said he was left humiliated, crying and covered with his own urine after an enhanced pat-down by TSA officers recently at Detroit Metropolitan Airport.
I was absolutely humiliated, I couldnt even speak, said Thomas D. Tom Sawyer, 61, of Lansing, Mich.
Sawyer is a bladder cancer survivor who now wears a urostomy bag, which collects his urine from a stoma, or opening in his stomach. I have to wear special clothes and in order to mount the bag I have to seal a wafer to my stomach and then attach the bag. If the seal is broken, urine can leak all over my body and clothes.
On Nov. 7, Sawyer said he went through the security scanner at Detroit Metropolitan Airport. Evidently the scanner picked up on my urostomy bag, because I was chosen for a pat-down procedure.
Due to his medical condition, Sawyer asked to be screened in private. One officer looked at another, rolled his eyes and said that they really didnt have any place to take me, said Sawyer. After I said again that Id like privacy, they took me to an office.
Sawyer wears pants two sizes too large in order to accommodate the medical equipment he wears. Hed taken off his belt to go through the scanner and once in the office with security personnel, his pants fell down around his ankles. I had to ask twice if it was OK to pull up my shorts, said Sawyer, And every time I tried to tell them about my medical condition, they said they didnt need to know about that.
efore starting the enhanced pat-down procedure, a security officer did tell him what they were going to do and how they were going to it, but Sawyer said it wasnt until they asked him to remove his sweatshirt and saw his urostomy bag that they asked any questions about his medical condition.
One agent watched as the other used his flat hand to go slowly down my chest. I tried to warn him that he would hit the bag and break the seal on my bag, but he ignored me. Sure enough, the seal was broken and urine started dribbling down my shirt and my leg and into my pants.
The security officer finished the pat-down, tested the gloves for any trace of explosives and then, Sawyer said, He told me I could go. They never apologized. They never offered to help. They acted like they hadnt seen what happened. But I know they saw it because I had a wet mark.
Humiliated, upset and wet, Sawyer said he had to walk through the airport soaked in urine, board his plane and wait until after takeoff before he could clean up.
I am totally appalled by the fact that agents that are performing these pat-downs have so little concern for people with medical conditions, said Sawyer.
Vote: What do you think about "opt out" day?
Sawyer completed his trip and had no problems with the security procedures at the Orlando International Airport on his journey back home. He said he plans to file a formal complaint with the TSA.
When he does, said TSA spokesperson Dwayne Baird, We will review the matter and take appropriate action if necessary. In the meantime, Baird encourages anyone with a medical condition to read the TSAs website section on assistive devices and mobility aids.
The website says that travelers with disabilities and medical conditions have the option of requesting a private screening and that security officers will not ask nor require you to remove your prosthetic device, cast, or support brace.
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