AIRPLANE or AIRLINE SICKNESS!

            Last month I returned by way of airline from an international trip.  About five of us became very ill on the plane and needed medical treatment upon our return to our homes.  Eventually, under a doctor’s care and a prescription of antibiotic, I recovered.

            It’s a fact: germs, viruses and illnesses lurk on planes!

             I have a few suggestion that may help the reader when he or she is stuck at 35,000 feet next to sneezers, coughers, and other of the sick persuasion.

            The ‘hot zone’ for infection risk is two seats in front, behind and on either side of you.  While you may wish you could just change seats away from a sniffly stranger, the chances of that on packed flights are slim.  Some recommendations from doctors and frequent travelers:

            1.  Airplane bathrooms have multiple surfaces that harbor germs.  In addition to hand-washing, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.  And don’t fill water bottles from the sink’s tap.

            2.  Open the air vent and direct flow just in front of your face to deflect germs and breath filtered air.

            3.  Tray tables can be covered with germs.  Disinfect with wipes before using.

            4.  Seat-back pockets are often stuffed with used tissues and napkins, or worse.  The only solution, doctors say, is just don’t use them.

            5.  When getting on and off the plane, passengers are tightly packed in the aisles, touching seats and latches on overhead storage bines.  Use hand sanitizer and raise concerns with the crew when air circulation is shut off for an extended period.

[and see, WSJ, Tuesday, 12/20/2011, P. D1; “Where Germs Lurk On Planes”]