Screening CPAPs
 

I just recently starting using a CPAP breathing machine. I noticed that each time I go through airport screening, they want to remove the machine and do the explosive trace test on it.

My question is WHY? It's a piece of electronics, but yet they don't do it to laptop computers. Why do CPAPs seem more dangerous?

I do insist that screeners change their gloves (in my precesence) when they touch my machine.

Your CPAP is not just electronics, but has a mechanical aspect as well.

I just wish they would change the name of the thing. Every time I see CPAP, my brain reads CRAP and then I have a huge "HUH, what?:confused: ... oh yeah that breathing thing." moment.

I think I remember reading this, and I may be wrong, the filters mimic the density of an explosive.

Remember to tell them to use a new trap also. That's the little disc they swab your machine and other peoples shoes with. They reuse them several times.

I just write that on a sticky note and leave it on the machine. At my home airport I'm usually pretty far from my machine when they remove it from the belt.

Keep in mind, that you are allowed your CPAP as an extra bag as it is a medical device. It is exempt from the carry on regulations. Of course, you will get people who will see you don't know the rules and either whine about it or come on here and complain about how the airlines don't enforce rules. That said, if you suffer from sleep apnea and the treatment works for you then you won't care about the secondary as long as you have it every night.

Nice to Know, my GF has one, but we have yet to travel with it. :)

I made up a luggage tag to put on the CPAP that says "Medical Equipment" in red letters. If a gate agent or FA starts to mention about the extra piece, I just flash the luggage tag and they say "OK".

The only part of the CPAP that they are interested in swabbing is the main machine, not your humidifier or mask. I think it's because it's too dense to see through on the x-ray. Most airports actually specify that you take it out and put it in a bin when entering security. This also helps you expedite your screening process by having it out ahead of time. If you're worried about them touching your mask you can put that in a ziploc bag so they don't have direct contact with it.
Also remember that it must always be in a CPAP specific case to be exempt from the 2 bag rule. You can't put it in a suitcase with other things and tell them that bag has medical equipment in it to qualify for carrying on an extra bag. Sounds like you're doing everything right by using the CPAP case and labeling it as such.
Hope it's helping your sleep apnea too! :)

Although it is not everytime, my laptop does tend to get swabbed more than the rest of my stuff. CLT doesn't do too much random swabbing of laptops, but in SYR it was about 1 in 4 for my laptop getting swabbed.