Germs on the plane?

[dtenel]

Ok...ok....not trying to stir anything up at all....but is anyone else worried about getting sick from being on the plane? We are leaving in 40 days and are wondering if there are any extra precautions we can take while on the plane? Does anyone know if Airborne really works? We have started with our vitamins, are washing hands all the time, but have chosen not to get either the regular flu shot or the H1N1 shot.

Schools around here are closing by the dozens. Thankfully we are all healthy! I would really like to stay that way for my vacation:) Any ideas?

[Xislandgirl]

I get sick almost every time I fly, just a cold usually, but sick none the less. It it the cost of being in a large tube in the sky with no fresh air.
I am not doing anything different than I normally do, which is keep my hands washed and try not to touch everything in the airport and the plane.

[pipanale]

I have never gotten a flu shot before last week...and here I am, away from home for work. It was a combination of the baby and the travel, but I did get the standard shot as a precaution. For what it's worth, in advance of the trip, I took Echinacea all weekend in hopes of not getting sick.

I've been lucky in that I've only gotten sick once in 4+ years of moderate to heavy travel. Still...being cooped up on a plane for a while is potentially unsettling considering how spreadable the flu is. But...I've got my hand sanitizer bottle in my backpack and stopped whenever I could in both airports to keep my hands clean.

I also do whatever I can on a regular basis to keep a certain level of alcohol flowing through my veins at all times. It makes me feel shiny and keeps the demons away.

[Steve S]

I was at the counter of a Cumberland Farms store (gas/convienience) yesterday when a guy came in with a full surgical mask on. Don't know why he was wearing it, but my unease factor went up an order of magnitude. Was he sick? Was he protecting himself ala MJ? Was he hiding/protecting an open wound on his face? Was the place about to be robbed?

Reminded me of the bird flu thing over in Asia a couple years ago but up close and personal.

[lazylane]

I for one am going to be armed with hand sanitizer and my travel size package of Clorox Wipes. I'm wiping everything!! I'm thinking of packing my own travel blanket too!! Here's a great article with lots of tips!

http://businesstravel.suite101.com/arti ... _in_planes

[California Girl]

Yes, your own blanket & pillow! Even though sometimes the blanket is wrapped in plastic, I'm still not real comfortable about using it. I found an airline-size blanket at the drugstore for $4.00 and that's what I'm taking with me from now on!

I also like the Clorox wipes idea. I use them in my home, taking them on the plane makes even more sense!

I also try to keep my hands away from my face or eyes, because I don't always remember what I've touched at the airport... I never touch the handrails on escalators or moving walkways! Eeccch!

[Ms.Montana]

I received the following information last week. It isn't specific to travel but good information none the less.

Dr. Vinay Goyal is an MBBS,DRM,DNB (Intensivist and Thyroid specialist), having clinical experience of over 20 years.

The following message given by him; I feel it makes a lot of sense and is important for all to know.

The only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth/throat. In a global epidemic of this nature, it's almost impossible not coming into contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions. Contact with H1N1 is not so much of a problem as proliferation is.

While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection, in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and development of secondary infections, some very simple steps, not fully highlighted in most official communications, can be practiced (instead of focusing on how to stock N95 or Tamiflu):

1. Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all official communications).

2. "Hands-off-the-face" approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of face (unless you want to eat, bathe or slap).

3. Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine if you don't trust salt). H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one. Don't under estimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.

4. Similar to 3 above, clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water. Not everybody may be good at using a Neti pot, but blowing the nose hard once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton swabs dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population.

5. Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C. If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption.

6. Drink as much of warm liquids (tea, coffee, etc) as you can. Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm.

I suggest you pass this on to your entire e-list; you never know who might pay attention to it - and STAY ALIVE because of it -

[RickG]

I try to leave the OCD behaviors at home when I travel. A healthy immune system is the best defense. Personally, taking a Claritin every day takes care of the most likely thing to cause me an illness - airborne and food allergies. A Tamiflu preventive prescription might be useful if you're immune suppressed, but the potential side effects are not too cool.

Please ignore me if I check my passport and wallet repeatedly or begin ruminating when a spike hits.

Cheers, RickG

[DELETED]

DELETED

[chicagoans]

I was at the counter of a Cumberland Farms store (gas/convienience) yesterday when a guy came in with a full surgical mask on. Don't know why he was wearing it, but my unease factor went up an order of magnitude. ...

My friend's sister wears one every time she travels. She was born with CF and has had a double lung transplant. She gets some funny looks but it's literally a life-saving measure for her.

I take Airborne before I travel, at least for a long flight. Gave it to the kids once and they couldn't stand it (have tried various forms for them) but I take it just in case, in addition to daily vitamins, hand washing etc.

[patr]

I carry wipes in my purse and wipe the tray tables and arm rests down. Also, I wash my hands as soon as possible and try to refrain from touching my face.

[greyhoundmom]

I also do whatever I can on a regular basis to keep a certain level of alcohol flowing through my veins at all times. It makes me feel shiny and keeps the demons away.

Pipinale, I just spit my tea all over my new computer screen!!!!

[Margy Z]

Sorry, but I am a germie. I used to get sick every time I flew but haven't since I started channeling "Monk": As soon as the plane pushes away from the gate I turn off the air thingies (with a wipe in my hand - lol) - I don't care what they say - my friend's hubs is an aeronautical something or other (designs planes) and according to him, on most planes, once the airplane pushes back you are breathing re-circulated air. I carry the Clorox things and wipe down the tray table and the arm rests. I have a mini-Lysol spray and will spray the seat if it looks yucky. I travel with my own blanket and pillow. I never drink the water on the plane - if it doesn't come out of a sealed bottle then forget it. In the restroom I don't touch any of the fixtures unless I have a Clorox wipe in my hand and I use those Wet Ones anti-bacterial wipes to cleanse my hands - no touching the soap dispenser or water faucets for me. It may be overkill but I'm not about to ruin a trip or be sick when I return if I can help it.

- Margy

[Diana2]

I do exactly the same thing as Margy Z. I always travel with my own blanket and pillow and use hand sanitizer and Clorox wipes on everything that I touch. I don't think of myself as a germaphobic but I do believe in being careful when traveling. I've been sick many times after flying so I know take every precaution I can to avoid as many germs as possible.

[Maryanne]

elderberry extract...

for the past three years, whenever I have started to get sick, I start downing elderberry extract...it nips many viruses in the bud...

here's how, extracted from text in the link that follows: "Elderberry constituents neutralize the activity of the hemagglutinin spikes found on the surface of several viruses. When these hemagglutinin spikes are deactivated the viruses can no longer pierce cell walls or enter the cell and replicate."

I buy Sambucol at Whole Foods... (actually I buy it by the case, online now).

also, to be gross, blow your nose really hard before you get on the plane, then swab the inside with something like Aquaphor ("good" Vaseline).... ideally, in the winter, do the Aquaphor then spray with that "OCEAN" saline stuff

http://www.fluwiki.info/pmwiki.php?n=Co ... Elderberry