Keeping Germs At Bay When You're Away
It's happened to us all: you get on a plane feeling perfectly healthy. You disembark with a scratchy throat. By the next morning, you've got a raging cold that's ruining your vacation.
The Saturday Early Show asked our Dr. Mallika Marshall to give us some advice on how to keep the germs at bay when you're taking a plane trip. Surprisingly, she doesn't see an increased risk, though she does have some thoughts on how to be cautious.
The Saturday Early Show: So, is the air in planes dirtier than the air in office buildings?
Dr. Marshall: The air is probably a little cleaner ... but not much. Planes circulate their air a little more often than office buildings and many planes also have HEPA filters which help clean the air ... although not all (do). But I think people tend to exaggerate the risk of getting sick on an airplane. Experts say your risk of catching something from another infected passenger is only about 1 in 1,000.
That said, one of the big problems with airplane air is that it is incredibly dry. And dry air leads to dry mucus membranes in your nose. And dry mucus membranes make you more susceptible to catching a cold. So that person who's coughing right next to you or right behind you becomes a little more threatening. But there are some simple steps you can take to help reduce your risk of getting sick.
Then let's go through your tips. The first is obvious, but we can't stress it enough -- wash your hands!
Yes, wash your hands often. But keep in mind that the bathrooms on airplanes aren't the cleanest places in the world. So wash your hands, use a paper towel to touch the faucets and the door handles. And consider carrying along a disinfectant gel in travel size -- keeping in mind the airline restrictions about liquids on flights.
Next, you say to use disinfectant wipes.
To be honest, it's unlikely you're going to get sick from touching your tray table or your armrest, or the window, but they are still often covered with germs and just the idea of touching them can be unsettling. So you can bring along a portable pack of disinfectant wipes to wipe things down around your seat.
You also say to drink lots of water. How does that help?
Yes, as we mentioned before, the dry air on planes makes you more susceptible to viruses. So to keep those mucus membranes moist, stay well hydrated and drink plenty of water. You can also bring along a nasal saline spray -- it's just salt water that you can spray in your nostrils every couple of hours to keep them moist.
Why is it important to bring your own reading material?
Those magazine on the seat back in front of you have been touched by countless people before you and can again harbor germs. Are you likely to get sick from reading a used magazine? No. But why not bring your own periodicals and reading material so you don't even have to touch them.
What about the pillows and blankets the airline provides? Are they safe to use?
Yes, they are generally safe to use. In fact, the pillows and blankets provided are often cleaner than other parts of the plane. So don't worry unnecessarily about those.
What about Airborne. Many people swear by this product and say that since they've started using it, they never get sick when flying.
This is a product that was created by a teacher who wanted to boost her immune system so she wouldn't get sick from her students. The capsules contain vitamins, like vitamin C, minerals, and herbs like Echinacea. The marketing has been right-on and sales have sky-rocketed. Passengers think that by popping this pill (or drinking the beverage made from Airborne tablets) before their flight, they'll be protected from getting sick. But there are no legitimate scientific studies to show that it will prevent you from getting sick. Will it hurt you to take it? Probably not. But is it worth the expense? Probably not. Remember, the odds are in your favor that you won't get sick from being on an airplane anyway.