Can you bring EMT shears in your carryon luggage?

Aspendiver · June 22nd, 2009, 04:41 PM

I've done some searching, and the answer appears to be "YES".

Here are the guidelines from TSA:

Scissors - metal with pointed tips and blades shorter than four inches Carryon-Yes Checked- Yes

I would love to hear from folks with experience doing this- I'm trying to get my kit down to carryon luggage.

RoatanMan · June 22nd, 2009, 06:38 PM

In general, TSA activities and rules application are not necessarily in lock-step with the printed regulations.

In that the scissors regulation is #7 in a list of many, in that scissors are likely often seen by TSA screeners, your are likely to find them understanding and following the regulation fairly well.

"Scissors - metal with pointed tips and blades shorter than four inches Carryon-Yes Checked- Yes"

As with all things TSA or Airline, it is best to print a copy of their regs and carry it with you.

They might have an issue because- altho have blades of less than 4"... they aren't pointed tips !

mikemill · June 22nd, 2009, 06:44 PM

Of course that would be an example of when "and" is a disjunction and not a conjunction but that is another story.

I would love to hear if someone was able to take them on.

Damselfish · June 22nd, 2009, 11:08 PM

In my experience any type of scissors in carry-on are a complete crapshoot, even the most innocent scissors that are well within the rules. It's up to the whims of the TSA agent. I don't think I've actually had any confiscated, but I've had enough hassles that I've mostly stopped trying.

I really like having a pair of scissors when I travel in general, just come in handy often. So I bought a pair of childrens scissors with big loopy plastic handles and short rounded blades for the purpose, and they don't even like those too much. Guess they break the "point" rule.

H2Andy · June 22nd, 2009, 11:20 PM

ditto what Damselfish said

if you can, just pack it and avoid the hassle

MatavaFiji · June 23rd, 2009, 05:49 PM

Agree, total chance at the check in. And at that point I wouldn't recommend arguing. Airports have become fun/humour free zones.

RICHinNC · June 24th, 2009, 12:22 AM

I have spoken with TSA HQ three times. (probably on their watch list)

The "on the ground" TSA agent can change any written rule they want if they feel it will make things safer. Nothing in print is sacred. Scary huh????

NorthWoodsDiver · June 24th, 2009, 12:45 AM

Why they impose the 4" and 6" rules for tools is beyond me. A 6" screwdriver is excepted but I'm pretty sure a 6" driver could hit every major artery and organ with very little force if it was used as a weapon. The same goes for pointed scissors, you could easily kill someone with them even without training.

Of course EMT shears are not pointed so they would be much less deadly. they are cheap so the worst that would happen is you go through security and they find them, you plead the 5th and the shears go in the trash. Once at the destination you buy a new pair for $5-8 and its that simple.