Following its success since the launch of our UK CAA and AOA sponsored Medical Device Awareness Card, the 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 has since been endorsed by the ICAO Aviation Security Panel and will be included in the next version of the ICAO Security Manual, which is currently in preparation.

The Security Manual is widely used by aviation authorities around the world, and whilst it is not mandatory, it is generally regarded as an authoritative statement of good practice which all states are encouraged to follow. 

The updated guidance will recommend that all authorities should consider issuing a Medical Device Awareness Card to remind passengers and screeners of the appropriate guidance and protocols on the screening of medical devices. It suggests the card be made available online to passengers, who may be invited to present it at the security checkpoint to avoid any potential damage to sensitive medical devices and support any request for an alternative method of screening.

The new guidance will incorporate a Medical Device Awareness Card template, which clarifies that insulin pumps should not be removed for screening, and that they should not be screened by X-ray or body scanners, with alternative methods of screening to be used instead.

I would like to personally thank our friends at the UK Civil Aviation Authority for their tremendous support since the launch of the campaign in June 2016.

I will continue my dialogue with airports all over the world to spread awareness of the security protocols which are now clearly defined in the ICAO Security Manual.

Please keep signing and sharing the campaign and if you have a poor experience at airport security, please email me on rachel@mdacard.com with the following information: the airport, date, approximate time, flight number and a description of what happened.

We would, of course, also be very happy to hear about your positive experiences at airport security!

Kind regards and stay safe,

RACHEL CRAWFORD
“Making airport security easier for people living with type 1 diabetes”
Email: rachel@mdacard.com
Website: http://mdacard.com