Yes, Art and I do travel. When you live in Hawaii and your children live on the East coast and Midwest, you must travel to see them as well as your grandchildren.
Getting on the airplane is not something I look forward to. Those long flight times in a space that gets more and more cramped every time is no fun.
Then there's those germs that are supposed to be lurking in secret corners. Since I'd rather not get sick, I bring antibacterial wipes and lotion with me.
Art thinks I'm rather fanatic about it so I was beginning to relax my guard a bit. But then he showed me this AARP article.
They gave a link to Insurance Quotes, an article called Germs at the Airport.
I was surprised to see that the self-help ticketing kiosks contained the HIGHEST germ count of any surface tested. It had 253,857 CPUs (colony-forming units).
Then they gave other results.
Toilet flush handles: 95,145 CPUs
Airport Bench armrests: 21,630 CPUs
Drinking fountains: 19,181 CPUs
Seat-back trays: 11,595 CPUs
Seat belt buckles: 1,116
Another study in 2015 said seat-back trays had the most germs on airplanes and drinking fountains at the airports.
On our last flight to Maryland, I did wipe down our tray tables and armrests on the airplane. I avoided touching toilet door handles going out and always washed my hands after touching the toilet flush handles.
However on both legs of our journey to Chicago for the stop over and on to Maryland, I sat next to two people who were coughing and feverish. Somehow, I managed not to get sick. I'm still marveling at that.
A friend told me that they went to Vegas and her husband wore a mask while she didn't. And yet, they both caught the flu.
You just never know.
Getting on the airplane is not something I look forward to. Those long flight times in a space that gets more and more cramped every time is no fun.
Then there's those germs that are supposed to be lurking in secret corners. Since I'd rather not get sick, I bring antibacterial wipes and lotion with me.
Art thinks I'm rather fanatic about it so I was beginning to relax my guard a bit. But then he showed me this AARP article.
They gave a link to Insurance Quotes, an article called Germs at the Airport.
I was surprised to see that the self-help ticketing kiosks contained the HIGHEST germ count of any surface tested. It had 253,857 CPUs (colony-forming units).
Then they gave other results.
Toilet flush handles: 95,145 CPUs
Airport Bench armrests: 21,630 CPUs
Drinking fountains: 19,181 CPUs
Seat-back trays: 11,595 CPUs
Seat belt buckles: 1,116
Another study in 2015 said seat-back trays had the most germs on airplanes and drinking fountains at the airports.
On our last flight to Maryland, I did wipe down our tray tables and armrests on the airplane. I avoided touching toilet door handles going out and always washed my hands after touching the toilet flush handles.
However on both legs of our journey to Chicago for the stop over and on to Maryland, I sat next to two people who were coughing and feverish. Somehow, I managed not to get sick. I'm still marveling at that.
A friend told me that they went to Vegas and her husband wore a mask while she didn't. And yet, they both caught the flu.
You just never know.
Ok, so here I'm preparing to fly across the Atlantic and you share this dire news? I can't say I've ever gotten sick from any of those sources so I'm not going to worry now. I'll just keep washing my hands diligently, eat right, get the rest I need and enjoy my trip and cruise on the Rhine.
ReplyDeleteInteresting those germ counts, we take wipes everywhere but mostly to clean our hands.
ReplyDeleteI carry those wipes with me when I travel. I wiped down my tray and the area around me, but now I've got other areas to watch out for, thanks to this information. Anything I can do to keep from getting sick, I will! :-)
ReplyDeleteGood ideas here. We now wash our hands as soon as we get home from being out, and maybe use that portable soap stuff along the way.
ReplyDeleteAs for masks, is it not true that most germs are spread through physical contact and not through the air?
germs are difficult to avoid, just shopping at walmart for groceries or breathing in any crowd....important to isolate yourself when you are sick so you don't share your germs only with your spouse....lol!
ReplyDeleteOn our Viking cruise we were asked to use the paper towels at the doors of the restroom when we left them and there was a place to put the paper towel when you had exited. It seemed such a waste. I used the antibacterial sprays almost all the time, but still a cold spread through the ship like wildfire and we all caught it.
ReplyDeleteIt's sometimes better not to know
ReplyDeleteWe have been very lucky in recent years. This last flight took us to Floriday. We discovered that flying with checked baggage in first class was the same price as tourist on Delta. I, who usually catch something every flight, didn't this flight. Maybe they change the filters more often in first.
ReplyDeleteI recently read an article that the best seat on the airplane to avoid getting sick is the window. Something about air circulation. Sorry I don't remember where I read it. I bet you can google it.
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I saw that article too. However, we don’t sit next to the window if there’s three seats because I don’t like having to bother someone to get to the bathroom. And yes, I do use the bathroom on those flights that last more than a couple of hours.... and that’s all flights except those to neighboring islands. I think they said it had something to do with more germs in the aisle where sick people pass through. That article unnerved me because they said if someone is sick, the germ zone is three rows front and back, or something like that. Sigh... keeping my fingers crossed.
DeleteI have gotten sick after a flight several times. I think you are smart to be prepared.
ReplyDeleteI was going to suggest a mask but evidently those don't always work. Keep doing what you do. Just good sense.
ReplyDeleteI flew from Ireland to New York. I was sick when I landed. I flew from Florida to Washington State. My voice was a hoarse whisper when I landed. I always, and I mean always, sit by the aisle.
ReplyDeleteI have never worried to much about germs in public places until this year, when the flu was so widespread and caused such serious illness.
ReplyDeleteSo far I have been blessed with a strong resistance to nasty bugs.
Saw a TV article that explained the blowing air hand dryers actually caused and carried more germs around than using paper towels. My nursing school bathrooms, and nearby Sam's bathrooms took out the air dryers and now have marked "recycle" bins for the paper towels. Not sure your friend could avoid sharing with her husband unless they took separate vacations... Since we get cranky when sick, my veterinarian son threatens to put sick people in the "guest patient" cage and room in his house until we're no threat to the general human or animal population.....Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteWe know the bugs are there. We don't know why some people get sick and others don't. we are crammed too close in airplanes.
ReplyDeleteyes there are bad germs every way which our naked eyes can not see..it is a good practice to carry antibacterial cream around especially for small children.
ReplyDelete<3
ReplyDeleteMy JB had to travel for a living. He loathes travel. This is the kind of thing I am afraid of, from my point of view. Lots of good info here. Have you heard of the studies about hotel rooms??!! sigh.
ReplyDeleteI use my antibacterial wipes when we stay at hotels too. Ummm... when I remember.
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