Navigating security checkpoints with an implanted medical device, such as a pacemaker, often raises questions about safety and potential interference with metal detectors. Understanding the interaction between pacemakers and security screening equipment can help alleviate concerns and ensure a smooth experience.
Safety and Interaction
Passing through walk-through metal detectors with a pacemaker is considered safe. These devices operate by generating electromagnetic fields to detect metal objects. While pacemakers are sensitive electronic devices with a theoretical potential for interaction, modern pacemakers are designed with shielding to minimize electromagnetic interference.
The concern arises from the electromagnetic fields produced by metal detectors, which could potentially affect the pacemaker’s function. Walk-through archways, like those found in airports, produce a uniform electromagnetic field that is of low frequency and brief duration. Studies suggest that clinically significant interference from these archways is unlikely. Hand-held wands, however, create a more concentrated electromagnetic field, posing a slightly higher, though minimal, risk if held directly over the pacemaker for an extended period.
Should interference occur, it is temporary and resolves once the individual moves away from the metal detector’s field. Rarely, someone might experience transient effects such as a temporary change in pacing or a brief feeling of lightheadedness. These effects are not dangerous and are due to the pacemaker briefly misinterpreting external electromagnetic signals. Few recent issues have been reported with modern devices during airport screenings.
Recommendations for Individuals with Pacemakers
Individuals with pacemakers should inform security personnel about their implanted device before screening. This allows staff to offer alternative, more suitable screening methods. Requesting a pat-down or a visual inspection is advisable as the preferred screening option.
If passing through a walk-through metal detector is unavoidable, walk through at a normal pace without lingering in the archway. This minimizes the duration of exposure to the electromagnetic field. For hand-held wands, advise the security officer to move the wand quickly over the pacemaker site and to avoid holding it stationary over the device. A few quick swipes across the device are considered safe.
Carrying a pacemaker identification card is recommended. This card serves as official documentation of the implanted device and can expedite the screening process by providing immediate information to security personnel, ensuring a smoother and more comfortable experience during security checks.