According to a study published in the JAMA that tested three flight scenarios, passengers were five, 23, and 113 times more likely to catch a cold on an airplane than on the ground. Rather than the vents, the study indicated the No. 1 culprit is that aircraft passengers are in close proximity for many hours at a time. If you spend any time close to sick individuals, you may breathe in their germs, which is why some people protect themselves by wearing surgical masks on planes. Another key factor is that the desert-like air in the cabin dries up your mucous system, and you become unable to filter out germs that enter your nose and mouth. To learn some simple ways to protect yourself in close quarters, see the “Traveling Healthy” sidebar.
Traveling Healthy
The following practical precautions and carry-on items can help protect your body against sickness.
Clean your area. A cold virus enters your body through your mouth, eyes, or nose, and hand contact is the most common way cold viruses are delivered. The common cold can survive up to three hours on most surfaces, so touching your seat, armrest, tray table, or window without first disinfecting it may not be wise. To be safe, bring along some disinfecting wipes, such as Wet Ones antibacterial moist towelettes, to sanitize the area around you.
Clean yourself. Washing your hands with warm, soapy water is the best way to remove germs and viruses. However, the cramped quarters of a plane or train may make getting out of your seat annoying to both you and your neighbors. Consider using antibacterial wipes or an antibacterial gel to remove germs from your hands. Because of current airplane restrictions to liquids and gels, antibacterial wipes are more convenient for flyers than liquid-based antibacterial products.
Stay hydrated. One of our body’s natural defense systems is the mucous in the nose and throat. Although it may not seem helpful, the sticky material prevents germs from entering your lungs and infecting your body. One way to keep your nose and throat moist is by simply drinking water. Hot tea can be especially helpful because the steam delivers additional moisture to your nose. The CDC also recommends that you carry a medicine-free saline nasal spray, so you can moisten your nose whenever it feels dry.
Change seats. If the person next to you is consistently sneezing or appears to be ill, try to move to another seat. If the flight doesn’t appear to be full, kindly ask the flight attendant to find you a different seat, preferably one not near someone else who may appear ill.
