Lydel, in fact I've explained what I have to some policemen saying "it's like a pace maker but in my head, give me your hand, touch, touch" (mine is not in the brain, it's just under my skin and you can notice it touching). It was funny, they get embarrassed and say "no , noooo" and they go quickly to find the hand checker , ehehehe.
Some others not even asked for explanations.

My husband has a mini defibrillator impla. He has the medical card from Medtronics and his doctor information. We went through security in both US, Germany, and Norway last summer, with no problems. He told the check-in clerk, who directed him to tell (show) the info to the first Security peson, and they directed him to a special area where only hand screening was done. Of course, that left me with the carry-on bags, etc., so that is something to think about.

I think having the info about the DBS implant translated into the languages which will be used in the countries you will visit, is a very good idea. If you check in as a group, maybe your tour leader can be helpful. mhm

A great big THANK YOU to all who replied to my post. You are all very thoughtful people.
I deeply appreciate it.

>>>>>>
unfortunately, many people from the middle east use the same name (ie, cat stevens became yusef salam, "john dooe").

that's why people are stopped at customs. how many muhamad ali's can there be?
>>>>>>

in what societies do people NOT commonly use the same names? certainly we do in europe, in america, definately in east asia, india, etc....???

LYDEL:

I have contacted US representatives in Rome, and explained that there are Americans traveling through Italian airports in the next few months, the husband has a medical implant and is concerned about possible problems at Italian screening checkpoints, given the medical card is in English, and that hand-screening is a necessity.

The US rep. has advised that they will be in contact with Italian authorities today at Rome's Fiumicino-and will query as to Italian screening procedures for persons with medical implants. Question arose as to which airports in Italy you will be traveling through? I stated (without being specific) that Rome's Fiumicino would be the gateway and possibly one other. Any additional information you care to provide can be passed along.

Spygirl,

"contacting US representatives in Italy"

I like your style...great work!

From my persoective, Italian airports are serious about security. I don't know how smoothly you might bypass the detectors and wand scrutiny.

I have steel implants in my spine. I always get herded through the metal detector, then almost always trip the metal detaector, and get a wand search, often accompanied by a pat-down.

Not sending someone through the detector would be en exception to the boarding process and may require security staff to refer the matter to a supervisor. And you have no guarrantee that your certification will be understood by any of the security personnel. Many speak English, but possibly not to the degree necessary to understand that he simply CAN'T go through the detector.

I suggest that you contact the embassy in Washington for more information. Perhaps they can tell you how to get a certified translation of your card or other documentation that will stand up to scrutiny. And most importantly, reduce the anticipation and potential aggravation of security problems. Definitely budget extra time, just in case.

I hope everything works out OK for you. Good luck!

Embassy of Italy
3000 Whitehaven Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C., 20008
Tel (202) 612-4400
Fax (202) 518-2154
http://www.italyemb.org/Contact%20us.htm

Why can't your husband "be wand checked"???

Spygirl and Shutterbug, I can't thank you enough for all the trouble you went through to get so much info. regarding my husband's safety going through security at the Rome airport. How sweet that was of both of you!! I really do appreciate it.

I don't know yet which airport we will be arriving at since it is too soon for the travel agency to be sending our documents.

And Intrepid1, my husband's implant is so intricate that if he goes through the gate or gets checked with a wand it will set off the security alarm but worse than that, my husband would have to go back into the hospital and have his stimulator removed from his chest and reprogrammed and that would entail a lot of surgery, almost as much as what was done in the beginning. That's the reason he must be hand checked (patted down).
I have a letter from the doctor stated that but I need to find someone who can translate it into Italian for me in case there are no English speaking checkers at the Rome airport.

I still have time so that's what I will be working on from now til we leave in October, finding someone who can do that for me.
Thanks again to everyone for being so very thoughtful of our situation.

I don't mean to sound an alarmist, but if security sensors can mess up your husband's electronics, you may have to pre-plan your visits carefully. Metal detectors are used at the St. Peter's Square to screen visitors before mass. As part of today's preparedness against terrorism, similar security devices are in place at other attractions and government buildings as well.

Good luck!

Of course, shutterbug. I also cannot walk through security sensors. But the problem is in the airports because you can't avoid to be checked (you can't say "forget it,I don't fly" and because the potential of the sensors is higher than in any other place. But if you really want to make a particular visit, yes, it's better to know it first if they have sensors :)
By the way, anyone knows if they have security sensors at the British Museum in London ? :)

My father has a cochlear implant which entails electronics and a magnet embedded in his head. It has a rather interesting looking wire that connects to the side of his head externally via another magnet and runs to his hearing device. (The grandsons love to "stick metal stuff" to the magnet in Grandpa's head!)

He also would be in dire trouble - maybe dead - if he were scanned.

On a trip through to Ireland in '03, he made it through security with no problem domestically, in Amsterdam (twice) and Dublin simply by showing his card and pointing to the device. He was moved aside and inspected by hand. Can your husband discreetly show his? It might help.

I think the research and translation you're doing is really great, but probably unncessary for airport screening. Millions of travelers have medical implants, the screeners see them every day.

The translation could be invaluable, however, if (heaven forbid) he were unconscious and couldn't inform ER personnel of the dangers of an MRI or some other procedures. Does he wear a med-alert bracelet? Just a thought.

Good luck.

Dick : "i just don't seem to see that as much in our airports anymore."

You don't see your car's starter motor, but you are aware that it is working, correct?

It was frequently reported that the security would be less visible, and that armed marshals would keep you safe.

What message do our gun-toting armed forces send to travelers in airports? Does this increase our travel and our spending? No.

This really isn't the thread for that kind of debate.

LYDEL:

I have just heard back from our US representatives in Rome, they had a discussion on the matter with the Italian officials at Rome's Fiumicino Airport yesterday. (I see now that you don't know in which airport you will be arriving-but this is applicable to all the international airports in Italy).

They have advised that persons at all airports in Italy with a medical implant are NOT hand-wanded, they will be screened separately, and with a physical search.

The Italians have advised that you are to contact your airline agent when you arrive at the airport and tell them that he must be hand-searched. If you have a card printed in English, there is NO NEED to get it translated, the card "assists in the process," that persons with implants are hand-screened daily at Italian airports with no difficulties. At Rome's FCO Airport, the airline counters and the screening checkpoints are located almost next to each other, so the airline agent can be right there to assist with the screening agents.

I was sure that Italy's airports had a hand-screening procedure, but did want to verify this, in the hopes of allaying concerns by other Americans traveling internationally with medical implants. It is also good, I think, for the Italians to be aware that the US has raised this issue with them, as it "elevates its profile" so to speak. I should also add that the US and the Italians have VERY strong working relationships in the area of aviation-very strong.

So you and your husband should go to Italy, enjoy yourself and have no worries about the screening process. If there are any other questions you may have that are related to this matter, post back again, and we'll see what's up.

Spygirl: You are a sweetie. I'm interested in this discussion because of the work I do but you have really gone out of your way to help someone. Nice to know that people like you are still out there.

Spygirl, Ditto to Sharon G...you are a real doll. The world would be a better place if there were more people like you in it, so considerate and caring.
Thanks for everything,
Love ya.

Gee, all this luv! Thanks guys, but really, as I'm sure you know, the whole world is but an email away...

And Lydel, I feel strongly that your post has general applicability to others who may be concerned about passing through European screening checkpoints with the same or similar medical issues, which is why I felt it important to provide information that comes right from the source. If this information allays any such concerns for others, then that is of course a positive thing.

Oh, and btw, Ms. Spygirl got herself a VERY nice invitation out of this little exchange from the Rome contingent to, shall we say, trip the light fantastic Roman-style, when I arrive in "la citta eterna" in two months. Now that's what I call productive! (smile)

Spygirl,
I am sooo glad that you are getting "rewarded" for all the hard work that you have done to ease my mind, you deserve it.

Have fun tripping the light fantastic,
grazie!

Spygirl, just another example of karma and you deserve it.