INTRODUCTION
Due to potential damage, insulin pumps, Freestyle Libre and CGM manufacturers advise that the medical devices should not be exposed to x-ray screening and full-body airport scanners. Regulations allow passengers with these medical devices to ask for an alternative security screening process, for example a pat-down supported by ETD (explosive trace detection). 

Please watch our video and to follow our progress, see our Campaign Timeline. 

Our aim is for airport security officers to recognise that insulin pumps, Freestyle Libre and CGMs are medical devices that should NOT go through x-ray machines or full-body airport scanners and should be subject to alternative security screening and that failure to do so could swiftly cause medical consequences.

There have been many negative experiences at airport security, including our own harrowing experience when my son and I were held in an airport police room for over 2 hours and denied access to an aircraft due to my son’s insulin pump, which resulted in this global campaign. Please click here to read other passenger's comments and watch a short video on this campaign from the JDRF Fusion Online Conference.

UK MEDICAL DEVICE AWARENESS CARD
As a direct result of our campaign, a Medical Device Awareness Card sponsored by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and Airport Operators Association (AOA) was launched in 2019. The advantage of the live link to the card is that it’s available immediately - you can even download it to your mobile devices at the airport if you have forgotten it. However, I have had 125mm x 85mm double-sided versions of the Medical Device Awareness card printed - the perfect size to tuck in your passport! I am happy to provide the printed card free of charge upon receipt of a stamped addressed envelope (UK only). Please email rachel@mdacard.com for details.

GOING GLOBAL
The card scheme was presented at an ICAO meeting in early 2020 by the UK CAA and Airports Council International (ACI), as part of a proposal to improve global guidance on security screening for passengers with medical devices. The proposal was endorsed by the ICAO Aviation Security Panel and included in the ICAO Security Manual, which is widely used by aviation authorities around the world. Whilst it is not mandatory, it is generally regarded as an authoritative statement of good practice which all states are encouraged to follow. We are now looking for Ambassadors to help us promote this scheme globally- read more.

We will keep you to-to-date with developments as they happen and would like to thank our friends at the UK Civil Aviation Authority for their tremendous support.

I am also continuing my dialogue with airports, airlines, the NHS and diabetes associations to spread awareness of the correct security protocols.

RACHEL CRAWFORD
Head of Campaign
Email: rachel@mdacard.com
Website: mdacard.com or jdrf.org.uk/airsecurity

WHAT YOU CAN DO
Keep signing and sharing this campaign and if you have a poor experience at airport security, please report it so we can act by emailing me on rachel@mdacard.com with the following information; the airport name, date, approximate time, flight number and a description of what happened.

Feel free to follow us on Twitter and Facebook to see updates!