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How to avoid getting sick when travelling by plane

Airborne
Airborne

It’s the holiday travel season, and tons of Web Watch readers are going to find themselves flying on a crowded plane, more than likely sitting next to somebody who’s just getting over the flu.

It’s like the giant lottery of luck, who you get to sit next to on the plane. Everybody eyes the other people at the terminal, wondering who gets to be lucky enough to sit next to that young attractive man or woman while avoiding eye contact with that overweight, unwashed hairy dude wearing a torn muscle shirt.

Eww.

So what are SOME THINGS YOU CAN DO TO AVOID GETTING SICK FROM OTHER AIRPLANE PASSENGERS?

Well, it’s mainly fairly easy if you use common sense.    Just try to avoid touching, well… just about anything.  Studies have shown that travellers are 20% more likely to catch a cold than not, just because you’re stuck in tight quarters with other folks for a period of time.

  • Drink plenty of water.  Avoid coffee, soft drinks, or alcohol as those beverages will dehydrate you.  Keeping your breathing passages moist is just part of the protection needed against bugs
  • Use Purell or other hand sanitizer regularly after touching a potentially dirty surface, like the tray table or the touchscreen.
  • Don’t put anything you consider worthwhile in those seat pockets. 
  • Turn on that air vent – even if you don’t point it directly at you, it will help keep the air near you circulating
  • Don’t use the airplane-provided pillows and blankets.  And if you bring your own, keep in mind where you may be placing it.  If you bring your own pillow, be sure that you use it on the plane only, and that you’re not keeping that as your regular sleeping pillow when you get to your destination.