Six Things to Know Before Your TSA Pat-Down

Previously, passengers with medical devices that set off metal detectors had to be subjected to a pat-down. But in an NPR interview on Tuesday, Lee Kair, assistant administrator for Security Operations, said that the advanced imaging technology “really speeds up the process” for them. 
 
However, passengers who can’t enter the scan or have limited mobility will still need to be patted down. According to a letter the TSA sent to members of its disability committee, this includes “people who use wheelchairs and scooters who cannot stand; anyone who cannot stand with their arms raised at shoulder level fore 5-7 second duration of the scan; anyone who is not able to stand without the use of a cane, crutch, walker, etc.; people who use service animals; people using or carrying oxygen; and individuals accompanying and providing assistance to those individuals described above.“ There are anecdotal reports of TSA screeners ignoring the needs of disabled passengers—but there are also stories of TSA employees acting with consistent professionalism and courtesy.