Staying safe during the Swine Flu Outbreak
{ Tags: safe to fly, Swine Flu \ May4 }
Photo: Straits Times.
While it is impossible to guarantee 100% safety during this Swine Flu outbreak, here are some tips extracted from The New York Times to help reduce your chances of contracting the disease during flights.
Minimize exposure while aboard aircraft
By keeping the air vent over your seat on low and pointing it so that the airflow is just in front of your face. This may prevent any infectious droplets from landing on your mucous membranes. Most infectious agents gain a foothold in our body through entering the mucous membranes of our eyes, nose and mouth.
Make good hand hygiene part of your travel routine
Good hand hygiene is paramount in reducing the risk of disease transmission. Studies show markedly reduced rates of influenza transmission in public spaces that have alcohol-based hand sanitizer dispensers. The product should have an alcohol content of at least 50 percent to be effective against viruses.
Consider a face mask
Face masks may help but only need to be used when outbreaks become widespread and are declared a pandemic. The most commonly used simple face masks only filter about 62 percent of very small particles, compared to about 98 percent for professional-grade face masks (these are typically designated N-95). Simple face masks are designed to prevent large droplets that are coughed or sneezed from contaminating the environment rather than protecting the wearer. Bring an extra mask along, and kindly offer it to anyone coughing or sneezing who looks sick. This will keep any droplets from landing on you.
Click here for the original article: Is It Safe to Fly During the Swine Flu Outbreak?