Apparently I need a Pacemaker. Kind of unbelievable, but I have been hypothyroid for a very long time and I know my heart has been affected. So, I got to thinking about the RFID. Pretty sure newer Pacemakers are relatively free from affects that older ones may have around magnets and such. I did work in MRI for years when Pacemakers were not allowed, and still are in some facilities. Anyway, if you have any experience I'd be happy to hear.
-
Women skiers, this is the place for you -- an online community without the male-orientation you'll find in conventional ski magazines and internet ski forums. At TheSkiDiva.com, you can connect with other women to talk about skiing in a way that you can relate to, about things that you find of interest. Be sure to join our community to participate (women only, please!). Registration is fast and simple. Just be sure to add webmaster@theskidiva.com to your address book so your registration activation emails won't be routed as spam. And please give careful consideration to your user name -- it will not be changed once your registration is confirmed.
Has anyone experienced issues with Pacemaker and RFID?
- Thread starter badger
- Start date
From what I can tell doing a quick look around the Internet is that the RFID industry figured out how to adapt to the fact that the use of pacemakers has become more common. Found a medical study from fifteen years ago when RFID readers were uncommon that found evidence of interference. The RFID Journal was well aware of that study.
Given how many seniors ski midweek and the increased implementation of RFID lift access, I find it hard to believe that people with pacemakers have a reason to be concerned.
Found the same caution for two completely different resorts (bold added). W-B is a huge destination resort. Gunstock imostly caters to locals in the Boston area. The text was probably provided by the RFID vendor. W-B explicitly notes they use SKIDATA. Axxess is the vendor used by more ski resorts in the USA. I'm guessing that's the company used by Gunstock. I've seen SKIDATA more often on the Pacific coast.
From Whistler-Blackcomb website:
Q: What about RFID & Pacemakers?
A: RFID is the acronym for “radio frequency identification”. Devices many of us use everyday function with radio frequencies and electromagnetic fields, such as radio units, cordless or cell phones, or wireless networks. SKIDATA RFID readers are electronic devices that produce an electromagnetic field like any other electronic device used for hands-free technology. Based on SKIDATA’s own records, its research and its reports of independent research conducted on the influence of electromagnetic fields on medical implants such as pacemakers, there is no known health risk of interaction between SKIDATA RFID readers and pacemakers. However, if you wear a pacemaker, you should consult with your physician and refer to the manufacturer’s recommendations for your specific device, as you would with any electronic device. Out of an abundance of caution, we recommend that guests with pacemakers not wear the lift access media card near their heart when passing through RFID gates. We also recommend that guests not linger close to RFID readers, maintaining a distance of at least 8 to 12 inches from RFID readers while in line and when passing through the gate.
*If you wear a pacemaker or other medical implant and prefer not to pass through the RFID gate, please alert the validation staff at the lift and you will be given alternative direction for lift access.
From Gunstock website:
If you wear a pacemaker or other medical implant and prefer not to pass through the RFID gates, please alert our staff at the lift and you will be given alternative direction for lift access.
Given how many seniors ski midweek and the increased implementation of RFID lift access, I find it hard to believe that people with pacemakers have a reason to be concerned.
Found the same caution for two completely different resorts (bold added). W-B is a huge destination resort. Gunstock imostly caters to locals in the Boston area. The text was probably provided by the RFID vendor. W-B explicitly notes they use SKIDATA. Axxess is the vendor used by more ski resorts in the USA. I'm guessing that's the company used by Gunstock. I've seen SKIDATA more often on the Pacific coast.
From Whistler-Blackcomb website:
Q: What about RFID & Pacemakers?
A: RFID is the acronym for “radio frequency identification”. Devices many of us use everyday function with radio frequencies and electromagnetic fields, such as radio units, cordless or cell phones, or wireless networks. SKIDATA RFID readers are electronic devices that produce an electromagnetic field like any other electronic device used for hands-free technology. Based on SKIDATA’s own records, its research and its reports of independent research conducted on the influence of electromagnetic fields on medical implants such as pacemakers, there is no known health risk of interaction between SKIDATA RFID readers and pacemakers. However, if you wear a pacemaker, you should consult with your physician and refer to the manufacturer’s recommendations for your specific device, as you would with any electronic device. Out of an abundance of caution, we recommend that guests with pacemakers not wear the lift access media card near their heart when passing through RFID gates. We also recommend that guests not linger close to RFID readers, maintaining a distance of at least 8 to 12 inches from RFID readers while in line and when passing through the gate.
*If you wear a pacemaker or other medical implant and prefer not to pass through the RFID gate, please alert the validation staff at the lift and you will be given alternative direction for lift access.
From Gunstock website:
What about RFID & Pacemakers?
The devices many of us use everyday function with radio frequencies and electromagnetic fields, such as radio units, cordless or cell phones, or wireless networks. RFID readers are electronic devices that produce an electromagnetic field like any other electronic device used for hands-free technology. Based on reports of independent research conducted on the influence of electromagnetic fields on medical implants such as pacemakers, there is no known health risk of interaction between RFID readers and pacemakers. However, if you wear a pacemaker, you should consult with your physician and refer to the manufacturer’s recommendations for your specific device, as you would with any electronic device. Out of an abundance of caution, we recommend that guests with pacemakers do not wear their RFID card near their heart when passing through RFID gates. We also recommend that guests do not linger close to RFID readers, maintaining a distance of at least 8 to 12 inches from RFID readers while in line and when passing through the gate.If you wear a pacemaker or other medical implant and prefer not to pass through the RFID gates, please alert our staff at the lift and you will be given alternative direction for lift access.
HuntersEmma57
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
@marzNC nailed it.
I am sorry to hear you're going thru this, but their is good news. I have a couple friends with them who go thru the side gates used by some of the adaptive skiers. They've been riding for a few years since getting their pacemakers. As there are so many kinds of pacemakers and RFID readers out there, it'd be difficult to keep track of what works safely. Keep in mind, you may be a liftie's first experience with pacemakers and it might takes a bit to get them to understand. . Always wear your pacemaker ID or bring the pacemaker card with you so as to ease their concerns (and ski patrols!). A good option is to call ahead to get specific advice from the resort(s) you're going to. I'm wondering if their adaptive skier point of contact might be a good place to start. Wishing you the best!
I am sorry to hear you're going thru this, but their is good news. I have a couple friends with them who go thru the side gates used by some of the adaptive skiers. They've been riding for a few years since getting their pacemakers. As there are so many kinds of pacemakers and RFID readers out there, it'd be difficult to keep track of what works safely. Keep in mind, you may be a liftie's first experience with pacemakers and it might takes a bit to get them to understand. . Always wear your pacemaker ID or bring the pacemaker card with you so as to ease their concerns (and ski patrols!). A good option is to call ahead to get specific advice from the resort(s) you're going to. I'm wondering if their adaptive skier point of contact might be a good place to start. Wishing you the best!
