While the expansion of air travel has made the world a smaller place, it has also facilitated
the spread of diseases.
While jumping on an airplane and jetting away can get you where you need to go fast (in
close quarters) you can be exposed to every cough and sneeze of your fellow passengers.
In fact, according to one study, travelers are up to 100 times more likely to contract
a cold while flying.
So how do you protect yourself from germs like viruses and bacteria on a plane?
Well keep watching today’s video because we’ll tell you all the ways you can protect
yourself from these harmful germs.
From Carrying your own hand sanitizer, bringing your own water bottle, not touching your face
to keeping your air vents on and many more, watch till the end to see them all!
Clean and Sanitize Surface Areas: Aircraft cabins are usually cleaned when the plane
stays overnight at the airport.
Because the flu virus can last up to 24 hours on hard surfaces, germs can linger between
flights.
Sometimes, germs can last for up to seven days on a flight.
This means when you sit down, the germs on your seat, armrest, tray table, seat belt
and seat pockets could have been infected as much as a week earlier.
With a domestic plane flying eight or more segments a day, that is up to 56 people who
could have left behind something icky where you are now sitting.
You can touch a contaminated surface and then unwittingly touch your eyes, nose and mouth.
About 80 percent of all infectious diseases are actually introduced by ourselves in this
way.
Fun fact, did you know humans touch their faces about 200 times a day?
A package of sanitizing wipes costs only a few dollars at the drug or grocery store.
You can even find travel sizes that easily slip into a pocket in your purse or backpack.
Remember to wipe down the following:
Armrests: Shared by everyone, but easy to clean if you have your wipes
Seat belts and seat buckles: Everyone touches these at least twice per flight, often more.
Seat pocket: We understand, those seat pockets can be tricky to clean, thanks in part to
the porous fabric.
Wipe it down, but it is best not to use it.
You may want to use your own bag under the seat to store your reading materials.
Tray table: Considered the most germ-infested part of the whole plane.
It has up to eight times more germs and bacteria than the flush button in the airplane bathroom.
Touchscreen entertainment center: These are frequently handled and rarely cleaned.
They are the first thing most people handle after returning from the restroom.
Yes, even before the seatbelt, surprisingly.
Give it a solid wipe down or avoid it entirely.
Also, if you ever have to go to the restroom, remember to bring your pack of wipes to wipe
down the seat, flush button, and sink.
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Choose a Window Seat: The aisle seats put you in a more vulnerable position, with all
those potentially sick passengers walking and sneezing past.
Plus, people may steady themselves by grabbing your headrest when heading to and from the
restroom where, to make matters worse, the hand-washing conditions are not ideal.
A study looked at a Boston-to- L.A. flight that had to make an emergency landing due
to a norovirus outbreak, which caused vomiting and diarrhea in some passengers.
What researchers discovered was that the passengers in the aisle seats, even those who never left
their seats, were the most likely to have contracted the virus.
Get Plenty of Rest Before Your Flight: As soon as you step on that plane, your body
is about to endure a gauntlet of germs from all over the world.
You need to make sure it is in its best condition.
Getting plenty of sleep before your flight is one of the best things you can do to make
sure your immune system is performing at its peak.
Try to get a solid seven to eight hours of sleep the night before.
Stay Hydrated and Bring Your Own Bottle: One of the most important things you can do to
stay healthy during a flight is keep hydrated.
This will allow your body’s natural fighting mechanisms to work properly and keep your
mucous membranes in your throat and nasal passengers from drying out.
Try to drink at least eight ounces of water every one hour of flight.
This is far more than you probably drink at home, but is important because of the increased
speed of dehydration during flight.
The easiest thing to do is to bring your own reusable bottle rather than buying one.
Most airports now have water bottle filling stations where you can fill up your bottle
for free.
Not only is this better for the environment, but you are likely to drink more water if
you don’t have to pay $3 for it.
Fill it up before your plane boards so you have a full bottle before takeoff.
Then you won’t need to ask a flight attendant during the flight for water.
On long international flights, the bottle can be useful in getting more water.
You can take your bottle to the galley at the back of the plane and ask if they can
fill up your bottle.
This is far easier than getting a 3-ounce cup of water 100 times during a flight.
Let other Passengers Board First: It is not just aboard airplanes that travelers should
be cautious of flu germs.
Thousands of passengers also pass through major airports across the country every day,
standing close together in tightly packed lines.
Try to be patient when you are boarding a plane if you want to prevent the spread of
germs.
People are grouped together in the boarding process which makes it more likely they’re
going to transmit a virus to each other.
Just let the other people board first and give yourself a moment.
Keep Your Air Vent On: While you might think that sitting in recycled air for hours could
cause you to be sick, keeping your air vent on can actually prevent it.
There’s been some research that showed that using the overhead air vent, directed straight
downward, can create a cone of protection.
It can actually prevent airborne germs from getting close to you.
The airflow from the vent can help to ward off another passenger’s sneeze germs.
In fact, high-efficiency particulate air or HEPA filters found on planes remove at least
99.97% of any airborne viruses and bacteria.
That air is also getting refreshed about 20 times per hour.
An office only gets refreshed about 10 times.
Avoid The Bathroom: Although you should stay properly hydrated, you should also try to
avoid using the bathroom, if possible.
It is the most commonly used part of the plane, and the flush button has a high concentration
of germs.
If you do have to use the restroom, use paper towels to cover anything you touch, such as
the seat, flush button, and door handle, then dispose of it while exiting the restroom.
Additionally, make sure you wash your hands, and avoid touching the handles or door on
your way out.
It’s not a bad idea to follow up with some travel-sized hand sanitizer for a second round
of germ fighting.
Wash Your Hands Frequently: It's important to wash your hands frequently with soap and
water that can get rid of pathogens.
Because on average, people touch their faces, noses, mouths, and eyes between five to 16
times per hour, the best way to avoid contracting illness-borne germs is to wash your hands
with soap and water.
While washing, take 30 seconds to clean in between your fingers and under your fingernails,
areas germs hide because people often miss cleaning.
But even on the way back to your seat you may be touching doors, doorknobs and seats
along the way, so it's still a good idea to use hand sanitizer at your seat before eating
food or sweeping hair from your face.
Stash Items Near the Top of the Seatback Pocket: One of the first things that you may do when
you settle into your seat is stash your stuff like cell phones and earbuds that come into
contact with your skin into the seat pocket in front of you.
The best thing that you can do is avoid putting your hand all the way into the pocket because
you don't know what's down there.
If possible, keep your items toward the top of the pocket rather than letting them slip
all the way down, where they're sure to mingle with food crumbs, dirty tissues, and who knows
what else.
Or you could always just skip using the seatback pocket in the first place.
Avoid Touching Your Face: While most people think you get sick from germs entering your
mouth, you are actually far more likely to get sick from germs entering your eyes and
nose.
Avoid putting your hands on your face or rubbing your eyes.
If you must, such as people who have contacts, then just remember to use hand sanitizer right
before you do it.
If you use a sleep mask, make sure you are careful where you put it.
First of all, bring your own and don’t use an airline’s.
Second, keep it in your own carry-on bag when not in use.
Don’t set it down on the potentially dirty seat or tray table between uses.
Skip the Adult Beverages: Drinking alcohol during a flight can further speed up the process
of dehydration that has already started.
With the lower levels of oxygen in your brain, the effects of alcohol are greatly increased,
and your liver will begin working harder to process the toxins in your system.
All of this further takes strength away from your immune system, making you more likely
to contract something.
Coffee is another drink that is best skipped over because it speeds up dehydration.
For a healthier option, try drinking tea instead.
If you turn your nose up at most airline tea, which usually consists of Lipton black tea
and maybe a no-name herbal variety, you can always bring your own bag of tea and just
ask for hot water on the flight.
Do you have any hygiene rituals when you’re flying?
Does it include any of the tips we mentioned?
Let us know in the comments section below!