Asked by: Megumi Eiros
medical health cold and flu

How do I protect myself from the flu on a plane?

Last Updated: 1st March, 2020

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Planes and the flu: 6 things to know to help youstayhealthy while flying
  1. Wipe down communal surfaces such as tray tables andarmrests.Dr.
  2. Turn on your air vent.
  3. Let other passengers board first.
  4. Choose a window seat.
  5. Avoid caffeine, alcohol while aboard.
  6. Use a nasal spray.

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Similarly, how do I avoid getting the flu on a plane?

We tapped several experts to give their top tips.

  1. Avoid Using the Bathroom on Short Flights.
  2. Stay Hydrated.
  3. Keep Your Hands Clean.
  4. Don't Touch Your Face.
  5. Avoid Certain Areas of the Plane.
  6. Choose Your Seat Carefully.
  7. Keep Your Air Vent On.
  8. Do Some Health Prep.

how do you prevent getting a cold on a plane? especially if you're sharing a cabinwitha sick passenger who can't seem to stop coughing every15seconds.

  1. Wash your hands.
  2. Choose your seat wisely.
  3. Get some rest.
  4. Eat healthy food.
  5. Don't get on a plane if you're sick.

Besides, does wearing a mask on a plane prevent flu?

Filter Your Air with Nasal ScreensorMasks A mask can offer some protection for for youifother passengers are ill or for other passengers if you aresick.This is a particulate mask, but it does notprotectfrom chemical exposure. Many people wear theseonplanes to protect fromcontagiousillness.

Can you catch the flu on an airplane?

How likely is it that you will catch the flu onafully packed airplane during flu season? Accordingtoa new study, not very likely. The flu virus canalsobe picked up from something an infectedpersontouched.

Related Question Answers

Tamaanant Gaztelumendi

Professional

Why do I get sick everytime I fly?

Exposure. Coming in contact with othersickpassengers in the security line, at the flight gate, orwhenboarding the plane increases the chance of transmission.Inaddition to proximity to other people, the airplane cabinandbathrooms can also serve as a breeding ground for germsandillness-causing bacteria.

Sandie Sapienza

Professional

Why do I always get sick after traveling?

While many people believe that recirculated,germyair is the main culprit of illness after a plane ride,thereal reason why flying can cause us to get sick is fromlowhumidity. This decrease in humidity causes our noses andthroats todry up, leaving our bodies' natural defense mechanismatbay.

Phyliss Peinador

Professional

Why is airplane so cold?

It occurs when the body tissue doesn't receiveenoughoxygen. And high cabin pressure and warm temperatures canfurtherthis reaction. It's fairly common in airline passengers.Since bodytemperatures vary, airlines will keep the temperature onthe lowside just to be safe.

Anjum Bedos

Explainer

Can you carry the flu and not get sick?

That means that you may be able to pass ontheflu to someone else before you know youaresick, as well as while you are sick.Somepeople can be infected with the flu virus buthaveno symptoms. During this time, those people maystillspread the virus to others.

Carina Serbanescu

Explainer

How do you sleep on a plane?

Key Positions to Sleep on a Plane
“Tilting the seat back a bit and using apillowthat will stay put behind your neck, which can also wedgeyour headand neck as you lean a bit towards the window frame. Thisgives youthe best advantage in terms of puresupport.

Radian Iraizoz

Explainer

How does jet lag feel?

Jet lag can occur when sleep-wake patternsaredisturbed. A person may feel drowsy, tired,irritable,lethargic, and slightly disoriented. It can result fromtravelingacross time zones or from doing shift work. The more timezones aperson crosses in a short period, the more severe thesymptoms arelikely to be.

Bartolomea Leites

Pundit

Is it OK to fly with a fever?

A fever is a no-go
“A high fever can be a sign ofinfectionwhich may be contagious and may worsen during thestressors oftravel,” he says. If you're able to getyourfever down to normal (97.6F) then you might be fine togeton the plane, but using your best judgementiskey.

Villaviciosa Weisbart

Pundit

How do I not get sick?

The Secrets to Never Getting Sick
  1. Eat green vegetables. Green, leafy vegetables are richinvitamins that help you maintain a balanced diet — andsupporta healthy immune system.
  2. Get Vitamin D.
  3. Keep moving.
  4. Get enough sleep.
  5. Skip the alcohol.
  6. Calm down.
  7. Drink green tea.
  8. Add color to meals.

Alice Ceallachan

Pundit

Why do surgeons wear masks?

Surgeons and nurses performing cleansurgerywear disposable face masks. The purpose offacemasks is thought to be two-fold: to prevent the passageofgerms from the surgeon's nose and mouth into thepatient'swound and to protect the surgeon's face from spraysandsplashes from the patient.

Ornella Holodkov

Pundit

Why do the Japanese wear face masks?

You're right, in countries like Japan andChina,facemask use in the community is widespread – much moresothan in Western cultures. People wear them to protecttherespiratory tract from pollution and infection, and to preventthespread of any pathogens they might be carrying.

Deandrea Utugunov

Pundit

How long can you wear a disposable mask for?

eight hours

Mankilef Errahali

Teacher

Is it dangerous to fly with flu?

FLYING with a cold could cause long-term damagetopassengers health. Flying with a cold or the fluisn'tthe best way to start a holiday. Getting ill can ruin a tripabroad,and travelling on a plane can make the symptoms muchworsewith the change in pressure.

Dawne Albaina

Teacher

How can I boost my immune system before traveling?

Commit to a Healthy Lifestyle
  1. Exercise Regularly. Exercise strengthens your immune systembyrejuvenating your cells and boosting your body's ability tofightoff illness.
  2. Get Enough Sleep.
  3. Drink Fruit and Vegetable Juice.
  4. Vitamin D.
  5. Emergen-C.
  6. Oregano Oil.
  7. Athletic Greens.

Padua Bargas

Teacher

Does wearing a mask prevent spreading a cold?

For many years, scientists weren't sure if wearingamask was effective at preventing the spreadofviruses. However, recent studies suggest that they can help.Theyfound that family members reduced their risk of getting the fluby70 percent when they washed their hands often and woresurgicalmasks.

Shalma Antunez

Teacher

What do surgical masks protect you from?

Surgical masks also protect otherpeopleagainst infection from the person wearing thesurgicalmask. Such masks trap large particles of bodyfluidsthat may contain bacteria or viruses expelled bythewearer.

Jeno Leve

Reviewer

How long is a cold contagious?

For colds, most individualsbecomecontagious about a day before cold symptomsdevelopand remain contagious for about five to seven days.Somechildren may pass the flu viruses for longer than sevendays(occasionally for two weeks). Colds are consideredupperrespiratory infections.

Ayanna Velovsky

Reviewer

What's the best place to sit on a plane?

The Best Place to Sit on a Plane
Exit rows, aisle or window seats,andseats close to the front are typically consideredthebest seats on a plane. On a short business trip, youmightwant an aisle seat near the front of the planeso youcan debark as quickly as possible onarrival.

Haritza Knutt

Reviewer

Can you catch a cold on a plane?

But as far as the common cold, 21% ofpassengersaboard fresh-air planes reported colds,compared with19% of people breathing recirculated air. The findingssuggest thatif there is increased risk of commoncolds amongpassengers, the main route for transmission isnot airrecirculation, Zitter writes.

Diogo Drexel

Reviewer

Are you more likely to catch a cold on a plane?

According to Dr Dawood,“virtuallymoisture-free” conditions inside aplane cabin meanyou're extra vulnerable toairborne infection.Respiratory infection and viruses are all knownto thrive inconditions of low-humidity, which includes everythingfrom thecommon cold to far worse.

Co-Authored By:

EveryThingWhat Staff Editor

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1st March, 2020

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