Travel Tip: Travelling with a laptop and PDA

[Laura Larsson]

Friends:

A travel tip for those who may be travelling this year or next.

Most airports require that you remove your laptop from its carrying case
and place it on the conveyor belt to be X-rayed. To keep your laptop
safe, place the carrying case in front of the laptop so that as it
slides down the conveyor belt it is cushioned by the case. Some experts
have said to ask for a tub to put it in, but the tubs I've seen are just
large enough for watches. If they do have larger tubs, use it to protect
your device.

I would also recommend that you tape your business card to the top of
the laptop for easier identification if you get delayed by being
searched. I also tape my business card to the case as an added
precaution.

If you travel with a PDA/handheld such as a Palm, pack it in your
computer bag, purse or carry on. Don't put it into the tubs; such
devices are too easy to steal even with an armed guard looking on. Also,
don't leave it in your pocket. They'll make you remove it before going
through the security gate.

Hope you all have a happy and healthy end to this year and beginning of
the new year.

--
Regards,

Laura Larsson
NLM Informatics Fellow, OHSU
and
Clinical Faculty
Health Services, Box 357660
University of Washington
Seattle, WA  98195
larsson at u.washington.edu
Listowner: PHNUTR-L, PHSW, PHNURSES, PNWHEALTH, HSR-L, BIRTH23MH

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