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Baby put through X-ray screener at Los Angeles airport

A grandmother mistakenly put her one-month-old grandson through an X-ray machine at Los Angeles International Airport, authorities said.

A startled security worker noticed the shape of a child on the carry-on baggage screening monitor and immediately pulled him out, the Los Angeles Times reported yesterday.

The infant was taken to a local hospital, where doctors determined he did not receive a dangerous dose of radiation.

``This was an innocent mistake by an obviously inexperienced traveler,'' said Paul Haney, deputy executive director of airports and security for the city's airport agency.

The incident happened early on Saturday, airport officials said. They said the woman spoke Spanish and apparently did not understand English.

The grandmother and baby later boarded a flight to Mexico City.

The incident drew attention to whether there is enough staff at security checkpoints to prevent such accidents and as well as concern about what else might be getting past hard-pressed screening staff.

The Transportation Security Administration has an extensive list of tips for travelers on its Web site, including a warning not to "leave babies in an infant carrier while it goes through the X-ray machine."
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