How to get through Heathrow security with an insulin pump
 

I recently dealt with an awful situation in Copenhagen where an agent forced me to place my loaner insulin pump and equipment into the xray machine despite my numerous requests for visual inspections( I contacted Kastrup airport about this and they actually apologized for this and said they would retrain their agents!). I pray his stupidity and arrogance are not going to cost me to pay for a replacement.
Since I was also transiting through Heathrow between Terminal 3 and 5 but did not actually enter LHR from outside, it is very distressing to me that after contacting Heathrow I was told that if I ever check in there and am randomly selected for the body scanner, they will not permit an opt out even with a doctors letter and they apparently dont think scanners damage any medical devices! So if I ever do need to proceed through Heathrow security, should I just wear an arm sling so that I can't raise my arms above my head to avoid being "selected"? I fear my future international travel is at high risk after what I have experienced.
Can anyone comment on whether or not they have had this problem or if a visual of insulin pumps is allowed in lieu of damaging it in an xray or scanner at Heathrow?
Thanks in advance.

As fas as I know, there is no opt out of a body scanner check in the UK, medical, religious or otherwise. Having your arm in a sling won't make any difference.

Having said that, there are very few of these machines in Britain so you are very unlikely to have to go through one.

I carry an insulin pump and regularly connect through LHR. I've never had to remove my pump and generally have been dealt with courteously and correctly by the security agents. My pump nearly always alarms the WTMD and I get a pat-down and explosive tests swab. I spend perhaps 1 minute more at the security check-point than passengers who walk through the WTMD and don't alarm.
There is no reason whatsoever to remove your insulin pump. The only people who can require you to do that are medical personnel (or obviously you yourself). I'm somewhat surprised by your experience at Kastrup airport. I've travelled through there a few times and never had any issue. I would have escalated the issue and asked for a supervisor.

We have a very long and detailed thread here about scanners in the UK. I suggest that you read at least the last few pages.

There are many ways to avoid the very few scanners at LHR. Often transfer passengers and fast track passengers will never even pass near one as not every checkpoint has them.

Add to that the rate of scanning is extremely low when compared to the US, and is secondary only, and is a MMW at LHR. The machine frankly is not in use very often (I fly through/from LHR almost weekly now, various terminals except T4) In the example you gave, you would have absolutely not have been scanned as there are no scanners in those locations.

Your chances are extremely low of even being selected, and they seem to avoid those who are obviously unable to use the scanner. My experiences for myself and others with physical issues have been good to very good to excellent at LHR.

I really don't think that this will be an issue.

Thank you all for your answers about LHR. I agree that when transferring between various terminals,say 3 and 5 that there are only WTMD and my Medtronic pump does not alarm(I think some Animas pumps may) and agents have also been very understanding about not putting the loaner pump through X-ray as long as its been a clear bag which it has.
My concern is that if I enter LHR to fly home from outside the airport either being at a conference or a possible future cruise and have to go through more detailed security at what I assume would be Terminal 3?(to fly to the US). I am not a frequent international traveler-probably once a year-hence my concerns after the abysmal treatment at Kastrup-I have had 2 apologies from their customer service department over the incorrect process that the agent followed there and was promised I would not be subjected to that again-I am saving that email from that person for certain!
I have also contacted LHR about their policy on insulin pumps and they are totally inflexible about trying to opt out-they could care less if my pump malfunctions going through a scanner(kinda wonder if their horrible health insurance in that country probably has very few people on pumps to begin with?) I even offered as a physician to help them craft a policy to accommodate diabetics but I know they will not be willing to do this.
I thought that if you can't raise your arms above your head that they won't put you in a scanner? Is this correct or not?
Guess I need to make alternate plans the next time I go to Europe or stop flying on American-but have a lot of miles I need to use up!

If you are using T3 there is no scanner at Fast Track. That is also the lane used by those requiring ground assistance ie wheelchairs. If you are flying from T5 there are scanners now back at north and south but again Fast Track generally avoids those.

They don't take those visibly unable to use the scanner, in my experience. But when asked by someone in a letter the response was that if one was unable to raise ones arms, one does the best they can.

I think that more Americans worry because they are used to scanners being primary at so many airports now in the US, with no WTMD. It isn't that way here; the scanners are often not even turned on or in operation, and very very VERY few people are ever selected. Diabetics fly out of LHR every day and I have never read of anyone reporting an issue, and I do regular searches for such information.

And what 'horrible health insurance'?! Do you mean the very poor situation in the US for health insurance? I'm confused by that.

As the previous poster has said, the two primary security checks at LHR are WTMD, followed by pat-downs/explosive swabs if the former alarms.
I still don't understand why you had to remove your insulin pump. I have never done so. The only airport where I had a difficulty was at AMM, where I hit a language problem and simply pulled up my shirt so the security guy could see the pump was physically attached to me. I've been through literally hundreds of airports around the world and never, ever removed my pump or gone through anything more than a WTMD, pat-down, and explosive swabs.

And I have colleagues and family members who say exactly the same thing. It's to me a needless worry. The OP should be more worried about transiting a US airport security checkpoint.

Thanks to all for your help and information and advice.
I have a fellow physician and former medical students who are UK citizens who do not speak kindly of the NHS-so that is my only reference point on that issue. Did not intend to insult anyone. I made a possible assumption that perhaps not as many UK citizens use insulin pumps,hence the lack of knowledge at Heathrow and total indifference by them to my inquiries about opting out for those medical devices. Although I agree that going through US airports is a PITA, I have not encountered refusal anywhere in the US to opt out of the body scanners or X-ray machines due to my insulin pump or loaner pump-and I have been able to obtain a visual/swab inspection of my medical devices. I usually travel internationally with a spare pump as a backup just in case my pump would get damaged as trying to order a spare while abroad would incur week long delays getting that package through customs. Since no current insulin pump manufacturers have managed to develop a pump that is not subject to malfunction by going through both X-ray,CT,MRI or airport scanners,this continues to be a problem for diabetics.
Thanks for the info on Terminal 3 which I assume would be a possible future check in terminal for me when I would return to the US since American flew me into LHR Terminal 3 and I transited to Terminal 5,then on my return from Copenhagen I arrive in Terminal 5 and flew home to the US from Terminal 3.
I have been pleasantly surprised with responses to my concerns at Kastrup and am in dialogue with people at Heathrow about revising their rigid policies for no medical opt outs. I have also been receiving correspondence from several people in Washington,DC from TSA headquarters who seem responsive to my concerns on this global issue and they continue to reply and forward my inquiries up the chain of command.
I know that all of us get very frustrated with what happens in the airports, but so far I have been pleasantly surprised that my health concerns have received very gracious replies and all have fulfilled there promises to assist me.
I will report back as this situation develops as I do want to continue being able to travel that does not jeopardize my health.
For those of you who are healthy,please remain thankful for this when you encounter the unpleasant security issues as "road warriors"!
Thanks for reading.

Hi exbayern,
I too have travelled to Dubai,Edinburgh,Venice,Rome,Copenhagen,Brussels,et c as well as many US airports-Atlanta,LGA,JFK,DFW,ORD,BNA,SNA,SFO,Monterrey,Hous ton,Charlotte,Norfolk,etc.Until recently,I too never had a problem. I was asked several years ago by a novice TSA to disconnect my pump at San Diego and told the guy no in a very firm voice and he backed down.
However, in Copenhagen on August 30 I had an agent AND supervisor who refused to read my doctor's letter or Medtronic sheet stating that pumps cannot go through X-ray,MRI,CT or scanners,was told I had to get written permission in advance to opt out,etc. Luckily for me they did not have a WBI at that airport but they still put my loaner pump through the xray machine as well as my sensors-for that behavior I did get an apology from the airport!
I then contacted LHR who told me that they do not let anyone opt out of random selection for WBI screening even with a doctors letter. Just trying to cover my bases for any possible future travel.
I am so glad for you that you have had trouble free travel, but all it takes is on really bad experience like I had recently to become pretty anxious about flying.
I have been corresponding with the various airports in a tone to be educational,proactive,etc in the fervent hope that I can make travel for diabetic passengers less stressful. From what I am seeing, LHR is a big problem right now.

It isn't. You are making it more of an issue than it is, and there is a irony in your criticism of airport security in other countries and your criticism of health insurance in other countries. If you want to fight a battle, why not battle the conditions in your own country, which are far worse than in 'rest of world'? Most of the scanners (AMS for instance) as well as the silly question game are thanks to your own government, and those of us who don't fly to the US, and/or who don't fly US carriers, don't have to play those games.

And I believe that virtually every single person who responded to you on this thread ISN'T in good health, and has family or colleagues not in good health. We just don't think that your posts are accurate reflections of the actual situation.
As I said to you on the other thread, the UK implemented this thanks to the US. The situation in the UK is not even remotely close to the situation in the US. Yes, one can opt out there, but the results are often very unpleasant and I will take my very regular flights from the UK anyday and am content that I no longer have multiple flights a week from US airports.

I have certainly NOT had 'trouble-free travel'. I have had countless bad experiences in my hundreds of flights but every single one of them was in the US, at US security checkpoints.

Wow. Just... wow. How rude.

And OP if this really is such a great concern to you, either qualify for FastTrack (by status or class of service), or use ground assistance.

I really do think you're stressing unnecessarily. I live in London and use the various airports quite frequently, and have only once been scanned (LHR T1, for the record). My wife has never been selected. Even in the very unlikely chance that you are selected, in London all the machines are MMW, which I am given to understand will not affect your equipment. It will of course alarm, but the alarm will be resolved visually or perhaps with an ETD check.

MAN, on the other hand, you probably should avoid, as they seem to have a higher rate of scanner use and also have BKSX installed.

I rather like not having to pay for healthcare or insurance here.

+1. It's the sort of remark that gives Americans a bad name.