Originally Posted by
debua1k
The TSA has a machine that they hold over the water that determines if it is safe or not. I do not know how it works, I just know that is what they normally do. This supervisor refused to even test it. I cannot prove that it is distilled water, but they can see that it is not dangerous. The supervisor kept calling it water and I kept correcting him saying it was distilled water. So, he believed it to be water, not a dangerous liquid. He basically told me that if I was nicer to him, he would have let it thru. He did not say those words, but it was definately the message he was trying to convey. I was very professional until the end when I was so frustrated I took it out on him for about 30 seconds. However, I was also very firm about my rights. I advised him that the ADA requires me to be able to take my distilled water with me. He told me that the ADA does not apply to airport checkpoints. Those were his words.
The machine you are referring to are actually test strips that are used in fish tanks and dont tell anyone other then the PH of the item being tested, TSA may claim they detect explosives but there lying out there arse because those strips are really expensive($20+ ea) and packaged individually in sterile containers.
Oh I really hope that you got this persons name as those comments are pure BS and deserves a complaint to the Nevada medical board, if not to the local DA for violations of ADA and ACAA.
This TSA hole doesnt need re-education he needs his butt shot out the door and into a jail cell, do not pass go, do not collect gov't workfare check.
Originally Posted by
alanR
So even the OP has admitted that distilled water isn't necessary for the machine - less convenient but not a no-no. So OP could have bought water airside or even asked the flightcrew
So why are people still discussing it?
Okay I'm Im gonna have to untie my tongue as I cant let a TSA esque making up rules on the fly go any farther
Just a question are you a medical professional? if so in what state, what is your certification, and your employer. If not I would suggest you think before you speak, because its obvious you dont know what you are talking about.
Personally I know alot about what the OP is talking about as I'm a paramedic. I deal with respiratory issues of all levels on a daily basis. I work around ventilators and other breathing apparatus all of the time, and to the point where i know many of the devices like the back of my hand and know nearly verbatim the manuals for them.
As for your comments, about buying water airside just shows you really dont have a clue as to what your typing. Ventilators, CPAP, BiPAP, and other breathing apparatus that need sterile/distilled water to provide humidified air is because distilled/sterile water is that there is no contaminates(Iron, copper, lead, other trace minerals, etc) in it.
Using normal water would cause those contaminates to build up on the surfaces of the device and over time would alter the performance and output of the device. The altering of the performance of the machine might not seem like a big deal to you, but when it comes to respiratory cycles 10-20% can cause numerous problems that are a whole subject unto them self. In certain cases those contaminates can severely damage or kill a device.
I know of the effects not using the correct humidifying agent on respiratory devices as another crew that used normal water on a ventilator for a long transport over 8 hours, well that crew almost didnt make it to there destination before the ventilator started having issues and started shutting down because of the damage that was done. No harm was done to the patient as the crew had the training and foresight to change to a different method to ventilate the patient until they got to there destination. After they were done the ventilator was taken out of service and sent to the manufacture for service. The ventilator was effectively destroyed and not repairable as the oxygen inject orifice as well as the the pumping chambers were almost totally occluded (the oxygen inject orifice had a blockage of 4.3mm of a 5mm opening ~86% and that was the least % of occlusion of any part on that ventilator). End result of not using the right fluid(which was later found out not to be what was indicated on the bottle because of a manufacturing error) destroyed a $20K+ ventilator and could have had tragic results if it wasn't for the trained professionals taking care of that patient that had other options for taking care of the situation, where as the OP in this case did not, nor does TSA have anyone that knows what there talking about.
The OP also mentioned the Doctor and the manufacture said distilled water is whats needed, because of build up issues. Those are very valid points and the manufactures don't put warnings or recommendations on products without a good reason. The reason that CPAP machines need a humidifying agent (and the right type) is because without it the dry air, dries out the mucus membranes and can cause problems just as having to much fluid in the lungs is equally as dangerous. The OP already explained what happens when the machine runs out or doesn't have a humidifying agent, and I probably don't have to go into fluid overload and drowning as that should be self explainitory.
I dont trust TSA as far as i can throw them and I keep a very close eye, and more so when traveling with anything medical or medication. I have numerous incidents similar to the OPs and trust me I have no problem butting heads with TSA as I have called in LEOs a number of times as a witness to make sure nothing happens, which in every case makes the TSA employees very nervous because they know they cant pull any shenanigans or power trip.