Any tips on how to avoid flu and other viruses while traveling?

[flamingdem]

I guess hand washing is number one but is there any other trick to avoiding the flu when flying? There's saline nasal sprays, antibiotic lotion around/in the nose (yuk), but of course antibiotics won't kill viruses, what product if any does?

[kestrel91316]

1. Hand sanitizer. And KEEP YOUR HANDS AWAY FROM YOUR FACE.

[flamingdem]

3. I was thinking about wearing gloves to

remind myself of that. It does seem like the number one way to catch something other than being around a sneezer. I'm tempted to wrap a scarf around my head like a mummy

[rightsideout]

2. You could wear a mask

I've seen some people do that.

Also Vitamin C and Once-A-Day type vitamins.

You could keep a bottle of anti-bacterial hand cleaner rather than looking for rest rooms to wash your hands.

Stay away from people coughing.

Personally, I don't do much of any of that. Got my flu shot and that's about it.

[flamingdem]

4. Now I'm wondering if I should have gotten the shot

but it's a bit past the worst this round it came early.

It has a 60% effective rate and 10-20 get flu every year so it seems okay to risk then again..

[TheBlackAdder]

5. Petroleum Jelly in your nasal passages. (by a pilot since 1980)

It keeps them from drying that would stops your natural mucous defenses from working properly.

Also, drink water or juices but absolutely no alcohol from 6 hours before until after you wash your hands and face after the landing. The interiors of the plane are NOT really sanitized between flights. Do not touch your eyes or nose without using an alcohol wipe first.

[Warpy]

6. First and foremost, keep those fingers off your face!!

If your nose itches, rub it with the back of your wrist. It works and you'll get used to the stares. Wash your hands as soon as you've taken the spread off your hotel room bed and deposited it into a chair, that thing is nasty. Go over the remote control for the TV with sanitizer, that thing is as nasty as the spread. Then enjoy your stay.

Avoid the ice machine unless you're putting the ice into a bucket and closed sodas (or beer) into the ice. The machines don't get cleaned very often, usually only when they break down.

Nothing much will prevent inhaling microscopic droplets on a plane but you can reduce the amount of them by shutting off that air vent above your seat.

However, the one thing that will keep you safest is keeping your fingers off your face unless you have just washed them.

[TheBlackAdder]

7. I always travel with a can of Lysol spray. I dump the can in the hotel room.

The first thing I do when I get into the room is hose down the floors, bedspreads, turn the AC on and spray a shot into the intake to kill the molds, clean the phone, spray down the bathroom, etc. Then, I leave the fan on and leave the room for a couple of hours.

Anymore, I visit www.bedbugregistry.com to check if the hotel I plan to stay at had a recent infestation reported.

Even so, I NEVER place my clothes in the drawers. I leave the clothes on the jax and place them in the bathroom with the lights on.
Also, carry a few 30 gallon trash bags for your old clothes and to place around your suitcase when in the bathroom to help prevent you from infesting your home on return.

[flamingdem]

9. You've got it down to a science!

Thanks for these ideas. Better safe than sorry, especially good idea to clean off the phone.

[TheBlackAdder]

10. Chances are, the bedspreads are filthy.

Most of the bedspreads that display colorful prints aren't washed between guests. If the hotel washed them, they would fade.

If you've ever held a black light up to one of those bedspreads... you'd be sleeping on top of the bed on your bath towels. People sit on them without any clothing on and do God knows what on them.

Hampton Inn washes their white bedspreads between guests. Check to see if the one you stay at offers the white bedspreads... ask for them.

[flamingdem]

8. Good tips all

I'll have to get a variety of wipes too. Elsewhere it says to open the vent to blow away droplets, it seems like anything adding to circulation is not good.

[TM99]

11. Some more tips

I have a compromised immune response so when and if I fly, I definitely take precautions. At least one week before flying, if possible, I start dosing Vitamin D3, Vitamin B12, Echinacea, Elderberry, and Astragulus. I do the standard as written dosages for all except Vitamin D3 which I dose at 10,000 iu's daily. On the day of the flight, I dose 40,000 iu's. I then taper off at my destination or after I come home. Short high dosages have been found to be quite safe, though it is always good to have an idea of your current baseline D3 blood levels.

I always where a mask in the airport and on the plane. I also turn off the vent fan as others have said. I also avoid touching things and touching my face. Gloves can be a help with this if you are not used to this type of behavior like I am now.

Hope that helps.

[Celebration]

12. two more things

I take limes with me and drink lime water to get alkaline. Or, lemon water should work.

Good nasal spray for prevention is oregano nasal spray. There may be a couple of different companies that make this. Stings a tiny bit but good for prevention. Also good to start at the very beginning of any statements.

[Dorian Gray]

13. Flu shot?

I got mine, and I've been traveling. Haven't gotten sick yet.

I also wash and use hand sanitizer a lot.