The holidays are a busy season for airports. Did you know, according to a study in the Journal of Environmental Health Research, you may be up to 100 times more likely to catch a cold on a plane than you are in your normal day-to-day life? But there are tips to staying germ free while flying the not always friendly skies.
With an estimated 24-million people expected to be in an airport this month, airplanes are the germiest places to be. Seat pockets, tray tables, bathrooms and magazines are places that are easily accessible and are crawling with thousands of harmful bacteria.
So what's germiest place on a plane? The bathroom. Try not to touch anything directly. Use a paper towel to grab the knob to get in and out as well as opening the toilet lid. Plane bathrooms are a breeding ground for bacteria like E.coli.
While seat pockets may seem like a convenient place to store snacks and drinks, some passengers like to use seat pockets like a trash bin. Stow things in your carryon bag instead.
And skip reading that magazine tucked away in a seat pocket. The only time they are cleaned is when a new publication is released, so bring your own book or magazine instead.
And always have hand sanitizer ready.
Also try to not use the fold-down tray tables on aircrafts. An investigation conducted on the Today Show uncovered those to be rife with high levels of bacteria and germs. Flight attendants have reported seeing everything from passengers changing dirty diapers to using them to hide chewing gum.