TSA Forces Child to Remove Braces. — This is all over the world press in an effort to show what a-holes Americans are. Good work Homeland Security!
SECURITY officers at a US airport have come under fire for forcing a disabled boy to remove his leg braces and walk through a checkpoint.
Four-year-old Ryan Thomas was flying from Philadelphia to Disney World in Orlando with his parents Bob and Leona when the incident occurred.
At the time Ryan, born 16 weeks prematurely with malformed ankles and low muscle tone in his legs, had only just begun to walk. His parents wheeled his stroller to the security checkpoint then broke it down and put it on the conveyor belt. They then walked Ryan through the metal detector. The alarm went off and the screener told them to take off the boy’s braces.
“I told them he can’t walk without them on his own,” Bob Thomas told the Philadelphia News.
“I said this is overkill. He’s 4 years old. I don’t think he’s a terrorist.”
Security also demanded Ryan walk through on his own.
Found by Steven Pelsmaekers.
I just went on a trip, and I wear an ankle brace. I was unable to remove it as I cannot walk well without it in the mornings, until my ankle and foot realigns itself.
Although I was not made to remove it, I was pulled out and my leg was swabbed. Not only did I feel humiliated, as it was done in front of all, later in the day I developed a nasty allergic reaction to that “safe” swab. All around the brace where they did it, I had a big, red rash which would start to burn at times. It lasted 4 days…..half of my trip! I tried washing the area well (and my brace) when the rash appeared but it didn’t help. Thanks TSA!
And yes, I am 100% positive it was the TSA “safe” swab, as I have worn a brace for 2 years with no reaction. Also, I only had the rash on the area they swabbed above my brace, no where else.
I asked right out if I was pulled out only because I wore a brace that I could not take off, and was told yes. I do have to say, however, the TSA person did feel it was very wrong to have to do so, and was appoligizing left and right for it.
The next time I didn’t even wear my brace. I was leaving later in the day so it was easier to walk without it. I was just afraid that if I could take it off, they would then swab the entire inside of it, and I really did not want to have to deal with an even bigger allergic reaction they I had already dealt with.
Funny thing was, when TSA first talked about this “safe” swab, I wrote to them and asked what would happen if someone had a bad reaction to it, never dreaming it would be me. I never received a response. I will be contacting them now to see what excuse they have to pacify me.
Makes me not to want to fly any more.