TSA 13-03
Tuesday, February 25, 2003
TSA Contact: Suzanne Luber
602-909-0167 cell
888-629-2853
pager
202-385-1800
TSA’s Pilot Screening Program for Children Proves to be a Kid-Friendly Process at Denver Airport
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) today announced its
kid-friendly pilot-screening program at Denver International Airport -- a pilot
project to help ensure a child’s trip to the airport is safe and enjoyable.
“Security for all air travelers is our first
priority,” said Adm. James M. Loy, Under Secretary of Transportation for
Security. “But the screeners in
Denver have found a way to make the process a more enjoyable experience for
small children. This is just
another example of TSA reaching its goal of providing world-class security and
world-class customer service.”
Security rules require that all passengers be
screened and that all checkpoint alarms be resolved. Therefore, screeners must perform additional checks on all
passengers, regardless of age, when they trigger the alarm on the metal
detector.
The kid-friendly process begins when families
approach the lanes designated for them at the airport checkpoints.
Screeners talk to the kids, give them a sticker with a smiling face, and
use hand puppets to entertain them as they go through the metal detector.
If secondary screening is necessary, screeners ask kids to stand on
special mats that feature cats and dinosaurs and use a fuzzy “caterpillar”
that wraps around the hand wand making it more friendly.
“I am proud to lead a group of professionals who
saw a chance to make the screening process better,” said Denver Federal
Security Director Bill Pickle. “This
program clearly illustrates our screeners’ commitment to serving travelers,
kids and parents alike.”
If successful, the program at Denver International
could eventually be in place at all of the nation’s 429 commercial airports.
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Satellite
C-Band Feed: Tuesday, February
25th 2002 2:00PM-2:30
PM
AMC
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Transponder 11 -
D.L.Freq. 3920 V - Audio
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