Information Madness

What do you do when you are stuck at thirty thousand feet next to people who are coughing and sneezing? Do germs lurk on planes? It is a common complaint that when you fly on a crowded plane, you will probably come home with a cold. How can you fight this in the air up there?

Air travellers are suffering with a higher rate of disease infection as per a study. The risk of catching a cold is as high as twenty per cent. The holidays are a particularly infectious time of the year. The planes are packed with families who are carrying not only their presents but also a whole lot of germs.

The airlines are deploying a whole state-of-the-art filtration system to contain flu and cold viruses from spreading. The air that is recirculated throughout the cabin is mostly to blame. But the high efficiency air filters on most jets today can eliminate almost the entire bacteria and virus carrying particles. But when the air circulation is shut down which happens during long waits on the ground when passengers are boarding or exiting, infections can really spread.

There are some basic precautions that you can take to stay away from infection. Keep yourself adequately hydrated. Drink water regularly and keep nasal passages moist with a saline spray. Clean your hands frequently with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Use a disinfecting wipe to clean off tray tables before using. Avoid seat back pockets. Open your air vent and aim it in such a way that it passes just in front of your face. Avoid airline pillows and blankets as much as you can. When you have done all this, hope for the best.