Valuable Tips For Making Air Travel Swine Flu-Proof

With the holidays approaching an expected two million individuals are anticipated to fly over the holiday weekend. Looming concerns about contracting swine flu are imminent when one would be in an enclosed area during the time in the flight.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have pointed out that still studies need to be conducted that would provide much concrete proof regarding the transmission of flu on flights. However, on any occasion wherein people are going to be in a situation where they are in close proximity to one another, for instance, on airplanes, then the probability of germs being transmitted also intensifies.

However, below mentioned are few prudent measures one could take while on flight to avert any contraction of the flu virus.

In case one is seated close to a person who is having excessive cough or appears sick, then such a situation could be potentially risky. The scientists from the Purdue University are of the viewpoint that one could most probably fall ill when one is seated near sickly individuals who are seated in one’s own row or the subsequent row behind.  The researchers have in fact come up with a simulation that lucidly reveals the manner in which germs travel about in an aircraft.

In case one is caught in such potentially transmittable circumstances, then there are few preventive things one could do for reducing the likelihood of falling ill.

1. Pointing the air passage vent far from oneself and facing in the direction of the ill person. By doing this one would facilitate pushing the germs into retracing their path back to that ill person.
2. Turning one’s body away from the individual who is appearing sick. And most importantly, one must avoid touching one’s face.
3. One could request the flight attendant if a mask could be provided to the sick person. The flight attendant could also be requested if the seating arrangement of either the ill person or you could be done to a different spot on the plane.
4. The ex-director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Julie Gerberding has made an important point wherein she states that the circulation of air present on planes is done via a HEPA filter. Hence, if one is seated a few rows away from the sickly individual then it is quite improbable that one would contract the germs.
5. Frequent washing of hands using soap and water. In case, one is not able to access it, then it is always sensible to keep an alcohol-based hand sanitizer handy just in case one might need it.
6. Covering the nose and mouth with a handkerchief when one sneezes or coughs. Others around must also be egged on to follow this similar routine.
7. Additionally, it would be quite prudent to carry along disposable masks particularly in case one is feeling ill.
8. Getting oneself inoculated according to the CDC recommendation.

Bearing in mind these valuable and simple pointers would definitely help in safeguarding yourself from any form of flu infections in the long run.