Air travel health tips

It’s almost time to get on your planes, and the last thing you want is to be sick for the holidays. You might think the recirculated air is a risk to your health, but it’s actually the very dry cabin air and fatigue that cause most upper respiratory infections. Not to mention germs and bacteria all over the plane. Here are some tips from the LA County Department of Public Health. Feel free to ignore all the tips on your flight back to legitimately call in sick after the holidays.

Tips to stay healthy

  • Drink water to stay hydrated.
  • Avoid alcohol and caffeine.
  • Clean your hands frequently with an alcohol-based hand cleanser.
  • Cover you nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing.
  • Avoid the pocket in the back of the seat.
  • Bring your own pillow and blanket.
  • Open the overhead air vent to circulate the air around you.
  • Change seats, if possible, when sitting next to someone with a cold.
  • Raise concerns if air circulation is shut off for an extended period of time.