Stay Healthy During Air Travel with These Tricks

Whenever you are in a small, crowded space, such as an airplane, you are at increased risk for contracting germs. The low humidity inside the aircraft cause nasal membranes to become dehydrated and more susceptible to becoming infected with passing germs. More germs plus greater susceptibility equals a high risk that you and your family will disembark from an airplane sick. Help reverse the risk and stay healthy during air travel with these tricks.

Stay Hydrated

Your nasal passages are the first line of defense against invading germs, keep nasal membranes well hydrated and functioning at full capacity by drinking plenty of water before and during air travel.

Turn the Air On

Turn on the air vent above your seat and direct the air flow slightly in front of your face. Use an anti-bacterial wipe to clean the buttons and air vent before turning it on. The force air blowing down and away from your face will help blow away the airborne droplets of germs if someone around you sneezes. One sneeze produces up to 30,000 droplets, with each droplets harboring a multitude of germs.

Spray and Lube

Keep a bottle of saline nasal spray handy and use it often to ensure nasal membranes stay hydrated during the flight. Also apply a thin layer of anti-bacterial ointment, like Neosporin, just under the nose and around the nasal openings. The anti-bacterial ointment will catch and kill germs before the reach inside the nasal passages. When on a long flight, every few hours, wipe off the anti-bacterial ointment with an alcohol based wipe, then re-apply the ointment.

Don't Touch

Make a conscious effort to not touch your face. We unconsciously touch our face multiple times each hour, and with every touch, we introduce germs and bacteria to our face. Germs which can make there way into our bodies via the mouth, nostrils or eyes and make us sick.

Carry on anti-bacterial wipes to clean hands, arm rests, trays and so forth on the plane, all of which are usually teeming with illness causing germs. Carry a travel sized bottle of hand sanitizer on the air plane too.

Mask and Gloves

If you have a compromised or weak immune system, don a surgical mask and gloves for the duration of the flight (in addition to all doing all the other things to stay healthy during air travel). It may not be haute couture, but it's better to be safe than sorry.