I discovered yesterday on my way home from the Wise Traditions seminar that I had unknowingly received a bon voyage blast of radiation from a body scanner on my way out of town via Tampa International Airport.
A radiation expert that I was chatting up in the van on the way to Dallas airport yesterday clued me in.
Apparently, some TSA agents are now flat out lying to airline passengers about the machines they operate.
I never got the memo.
I have to admit that I haven’t been keeping up with the roll-out of body scanner machines across the United States over the past year. Â I knew some of the larger hubs had them but had not read or heard anywhere in my local community that Tampa International now has them too.
So, on my way through security last Thursday I wasn’t anticipating anything different at the security check.
As I dutifully removed my shoes, I first sensed something was very wrong when I saw the big security box that people were walking through after stepping inside and placing their feet on the appropriate spots and putting their hands in the air.
I figured that must be a body scanner so I told the TSA agent when it was my turn that I wanted a pat-down instead.
“We don’t do pat-downs here”, he said.
“This machine here doesn’t have any radiation – if it did, I wouldn’t be standing so close“, he assured me.
Skeptical and taken aback but the TSA agent’s answer, I went ahead and proceeded through the big box to be checked.
Big mistake. Â Big HUGE mistake.
So, after the conference on the way home, the radiation expert I was talking to in the shuttle told me that the big box that I had stepped into was indeed a body scanner and that I had received a not so small dose of radiation as a thank you for my lemming-like behavior.
Sure enough, when I arrived at Dallas-Ft. Worth Airport, I talked to the baggage check-in agent and he told me that yes, Dallas has body scanners and that you can, of course, choose a pat-down if you like.
When I arrived at my terminal’s security point, the machine used was the exact same box like the one I walked through in Tampa International. Â The people went inside and stood exactly as I had and put their hands in the air the same way.
When it was my turn to be checked, I requested a pat-down.
“Of course, that is your choice”, said the TSA agent.
She proceeded to give me a manual pat-down, which I have to say was no big deal at all. Â At no time, did I feel uncomfortable or violated in any way.
So, what happened at TIA and why in the world did that TSA agent so unlawfully mislead me? Â Why did I receive such a completely different answer at Tampa International Airport and at Dallas-Ft. Worth Airport?
My thought is that the TSA agent believed 100% what he was telling me. Â I did not sense or see any body language that indicated that he knew he was lying. Â I think the man was told an untruth from his superior or someone else at TSA and is simply passing on the lies to airline passengers.
The important takeaway of this post is BEWARE. Â Be prepared for lies from TSA when you travel and when in doubt, insist on a pat-down.
I am now on the hunt for some black algae which will apparently release that radiation from my body. Â Any tips?
UPDATE: The program TSA Precheck is now available for those travelers who wish to avoid x-ray body scanners and avoid long security lines.
I just had a lot of xrays taken at my chiropractor. I think it was good because now we know what I have going on, but I didn’t like that he took so many. What would you do after getting xrays? I’m nursing do you think it can hurt my baby?
I have already been taking sprirulina, but I don’t know if thats all I should do.
I am pretty sure radiation doesn’t actually linger in your body. Instead, it instantly causes minor cell damage which can progress to mutations. Antioxidants like spirulina help with that. BUT, since it’s cell damage and not actual radiation floating through your body, I do not believe it would harm your nursling at all. You may want to wait awhile before nursing if possible, so that any milk that was in your breasts at the time has time to be renewed.
Sarah,
During the post Chernobyl time, they gave children and others spirulina as a way to remove the toxic radiation, or rather, allow the body to detox with the help of the spirulina. If you do a search you can read about all of it. Apparently, it was quite effective.
I canNOT believe the misinformation out there!! My husband and I both chose the pat down when we flew home from L.A. last week. Like your experience, the TSA agents were very pleasant, we didn’t feel violated in any way, and overall it just wasn’t a big deal.
Have you considered contacting someone in authority at the TIA airport so this situation can be avoided for other travelers?
Yes, I’ve considered pressing my case as it was obviously passenger abuse. Not sure what I will do if anything at this point other that holistically get myself cleared of the radiation.
I’ve found in many of the big airports that if I watch the security lines closely, there are usually several lines and only one goes to the “big box”. If you look ahead and see that there is one, try to get into a line that allows you to go though the regular scanner.
Sarah, try to get your hands on some Astaxanthin. One of the most potent, powerful, radiation-fighting antioxidants on the planet. If you know you have to fly, especially during the day, you should be taking at least 4 mg of it daily for at least a couple weeks to offer your body some protection. But the best thing to do is avoid flying during mid-day — you’ll be exposed to way more radiation just by being that much closer to the sun, than you will at the airport body scan. Dr. Mercola recommends always trying to fly at night when you can, for this reason.
I’m so sorry you had to experience this! How frustrating. Good for you for being gracious enough to not blame the TSA agent for spreading the misinformation and not allowing you a pat-down. You’re right that it probably wasn’t his fault for thinking that nor was it his idea. Thanks for sharing your story.
That is so infuriating, Sarah. That scanner is an abomination.
People need to demand change.. Vote for Ron Paul, know your rights. These airport scanners are nothing more than “cancer in a box”. Dont be afraid to tell others in line with you at the airport….many are just not informed.
I’m with you there! We freedom-lovers have really got to stick together, and really I think most people really do want their freedom!
That is absurd! You should report that agent. I opt out of the scans every time. What amazes me is how people are so indifferent and just go along with it.
I also saw in the Tampa airport a guard with some kind of scanner at the gate. He was scanning people’s drinks. These are drinks that they bought once they passed through security. It was a random thing, but people were willingly walking over to him and wanting their drinks scanned. It was insane.
I just got back from the WAP conference too … and was confronted with the body scanner both directions – I always seem to get chosen for it. I “opted out” both ways. Interestingly in Dallas on my way home, the TSA agent who gave me the pat down asked if I always opt out. I said I definitely do. Then she said she didn’t blame me. She went on to say that a doctor from New York had come through earlier in the day, and while she gave her the pat down, the doctor told her she should take epsom salt baths everyday as she works next to this machine all day long. It made me feel so sad for this and other unsuspecting TSA workers; at least I could walk away. I wondered if maybe this doctor was also returning home from the conference! In any case thought I would pass along the information. Sorry that happened to you – but hopefully with all the good nutritional support over the weekend your body is better able to handle it.
I was only 4 weeks pregnant when I had to go thru that thing and by the time I realized what they made me do, it was too late. I was so angry. But thankfully my baby is as healthy as she can be.