Where are the Germs Hiding on Airplanes?
When you are gearing up for your next business trip with a colleague; or an exotic vacation with the family, chances are that you will be taking a plane to your destination.
The thoughts of traveling on a plane can range from excitement to the fear of catching a cold while traveling for a few hours. But no matter the risks of having the sniffles on vacation, we still choose to be jet setters.
How can you reduce the chances of catching a cold while in the air?
Funny thing is, most people think that the germs on a plane exist in the air. Totally not true! Michael Zimring, director of travel medicine at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, and the author of Healthy Travel states “The cabin air is fine and aircraft are outfitted with HEPA filters to clean it.”
So if the germs are not in the air – where are they? Well, they are on the chair upholstery, the tray table, the armrests and the toilet handle, where bacteria such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and E. coli can live for up to a week on airplanes that aren’t properly cleaned. This according to the results of a two-year study by a team of microbiologists and engineers at Auburn University in Alabama, who presented it at the American Society for Microbiology’s annual meeting.
Here are some numbers to think about:
- MRSA can last for up to 168 hours on the back pocket of an airplane chair
- E. coli can remain active for 96 hours on an armrest
So, how can you significantly reduce the chances of getting covered by germs on your next flight? Pack a few small items with you on your carry on: hand sanitizer (with alcohol) and disinfectant wipes. Wipe down the hand rests, window shade and tray table before even sitting down…you know that you have time to “kill” before take-off. When you get up to use the restroom, dont forget to maintain a high level of protection in there as well. Flush with a paper towel on the handle, rather with your hand. Open the door with a papertowel as well.
As you are flying, try to avoid your hands touching your eyes/face. Your tear ducts are an easy access point for infections to travel through.
Want to try out the Safetec brand of Hand Sanitizer before you bring it on your next flight? Click here to fill out a short form and we will mail you a sample.
References:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/flights/2014/10/13/airplane-germs/17044509/