Avoid Getting Sick with These Airplane Health Tips.
The likelihood of getting sick on an airplane is grossly high because of all the germ-filled passengers surrounding you. Here are 10 airplane health tips for how to not get sick on your next airplane ride:
UPDATED MARCH 4, 2020
1. Rest Before & After the Flight
Getting proper sleep on the plane is not very likely for many travelers. But, you can surely do your best to get well rested before the flight to build up your immune system. Similarly, catch up on sleep after your flight when you arrive at your destination or at home. Sleep greatly rejuvenates and helps lessen the likelihood of getting sick.
2. Take Vitamin C
Bring Vitamin C for the airplane ride and take it with a snack (never take supplements on an empty stomach). This will help fortify your immune system during the germ-filled journey. If it’s a short flight, take it beforehand. For added immunity, take Vitamin C again after your flight.
Shop for Vitamin C before your next trip.
3. Choose the Window Seat
Your seat choice can determine whether or not you will get sick. Obviously the middle seat is the worst. And, the aisle seat is just as bad. Passengers on the aisle seats are susceptible as they are more frequent bathroom users and surrounded by more people in their neighboring seats.
Choose the window seat. The window acts as a barricade from other people. But, be sure to wipe down the window and wall as most people tend to rest their oily heads there.
Also, if you can see the aircraft’s layout, be sure to not be seated right next to the bathroom where more people will pass by and the germ-filled air of the bathroom will escape each time the bathroom door opens. The ideal seat is where the least number of people will surround you and walk by.
4. Sanitize Your Hands & Surroundings
Bring wet wipes and hand sanitizer for your hands and the wipe down everything – your seat, seatbelt, armrest, tray table, recline buttons, remote, touch screen, and everything else the previous passengers touched.
If you really want to protect yourself in your seat, ask for a blanket in which you can layover your whole seat to sit on.
Shop for antibacterial wipes before your next trip.
5. Keep the Air Vent On
Keep the air vent above you on at all times. This helps to blow off the germs flying around you – most especially when passengers sneeze and cough.
6. Be Mindful of What You Touch in the Bathroom
Be mindful and extra careful of what you touch when going to the bathroom. Use a tissue or paper towel to hold everything – the door handle, toilet seat, flush button, sink, soap dispenser, literally everything.
After washing your hands, use a new paper towel to turn off the sink and open the door latch to exit, and be sure to throw away that paper towel on the way out.
7. Drink Water, But Not Tap Water
Stay hydrated and drink water, but do not drink the airplane’s tap water. Request for bottled water, and if your airline does not provide that buy water before boarding your flight. If you are flying into the US, you cannot bring bottled water on the plane, but these flights will have bottled water for all passengers upon request.
8. Don’t Touch Your Face
Be mindful of touching your face during and after the flight. You will undoubtedly touch something with gross germs. If you touch your face (with has the entry points from your eyes, nose, and mouth), you will surely intake those germs and get sick.
9. Wear a Mask
To further barricade germs, wear a disposable mask so you will not breathe in outside germs during the flight. Even more so, if you are sick and have to fly, wear a mask to contain your germs and not get others sick.
Shop for Masks before your next trip.
10. Don’t Touch the Magazines
Do not touch the magazines in the seat compartment in front of you. These in-flight magazines and shopping magazines are smudged with germs from previous passengers. Bring your own magazines, books, or reading apps on your phone. If you must touch the magazines, sanitize your hands after.
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