Keep Yourself Healthy While You're On Vacation

Keep Yourself Healthy on Vacation

With so many people traveling these days, we are more susceptible to coming in contact with pathogens. For those of us who have immune system illnesses, we really have to be aware of potential pathogens we may come in contact with. A healthy individual can get over a cold or flu in about a week. However, someone who's immuno compromised can suffer with Illness for 2 weeks or longer. I hate getting sick. So if you're anything like me, you avoid getting sick at all costs. The same is true for me when I'm on vacation.

Pathogens are everywhere, but there are primary areas you want to focus on when you're traveling. Airline seats, rental cars and hotel rooms can pose particular risk to travelers. Although the dangers are there, you only need to take a few simple steps that will greatly reduce your chances of getting ill during your travels. In this article, you will learn some pretty gnarly facts about pathogens in these areas. I'm not trying to freak you out with statistics. Knowledge is power. When you're aware of the problem, you're more prepared to combat it.

It all starts with hand washing. Did you know 48% of Americans forget or choose not to wash their hands at key times? That includes after using the bathroom, handling dirty items and/or sneezing. So when someone uses the restroom, doesn't wash their hands and touches an airplane food tray, that tray is now contaminated. In turn, you may touch that airplane tray, then inadvertently scratch your eyes, nose or mouth. Now you have a high chance of getting ill.

This is a quick way to catch a cold or influenza. As if a cold or the flu wasn't bad enough, there are even nastier bugs that can enter your body. Gastrointestinal illnesses, respiratory and staph infections are but a few things that can get you really sick.

Basic Precautions

Wash your hands regularly. You can't control others, but you can control yourself. By washing your hands after using the bathroom, before eating and grooming (i.e., putting in contacts, makeup or shaving), you're protecting yourself. No matter how much of a hurry you may be in, taking a minute of your time will save you from spending a week or more in bed. Keep your hands away from your eyes, nose and mouth. This is also known as the Triangle of Death because pathogens can easily enter the body through these passageways. In addition, the triangle is connected to blood vessels that go directly to your brain.

Take care of yourself as best as you can. Of course eating right and exercising is sound advice for anyone who wants to be healthy. If you believe in vaccinations, get vaccinated. Take probiotics and stay away from anyone who is sick. If you take immuno-suppressant medications like prednisone, Xeljanz or a Actemera, you may want to wear a mask while walking through a crowded place like an airport or train station. These medications are wonderful in getting your body to work for you, but they lower your resistance to infection. Do whatever works for you to stay healthy.

Airplane Seats

On average, the FAA services over 45,000 commercial flights on a daily basis. In turn, there are over 100,000 flights per day globally. That's a lot of people being transported. What’s worse, that's a lot of germs being spread. Thorough cleaning on airliners are said to happen monthly with a casual wipe down in between flights. Hundreds of people will sit in your seat before you and that seat hasn't been properly cleaned.

Airline seats can be filthy. People don't wash their hands and baby's diapers are changed on food trays. People who are sick spray mucus when they sneeze or cough. This leaves E-coli, MRSA, mold, yeast, bacteria and viruses that linger around your space on an airplane. You may be surprised that headrests, seat pockets and seat belts are the dirtiest part of your seat. Furthermore, hand rests, food trays, window shades and monitors are pretty disgusting as well.

Fix the Problem

Yeah, that was thoroughly disgusting. How do we fix the problem? Very easily. Before you fly, pick up a couple of travel size packs of disinfectant wipes. While you're at it, pick up hand sanitizing wipes. Simply wipe down these high traffic areas when you get to your seat. Make sure these are a are visibly wet and use them on non-porous surfaces. You may need a few wipes because it's a good idea to wipe down the overhead light button. Be careful not to push the flight attendant light!

Don't be shy in bringing wipes into the airline bathroom as well. Wiping down handles and the toilet can be helpful especially if you have mobility issues and have to sit on the toilet seat. Use hand sanitizer wipes during your flight in between hand washing.

Who Cares What Anyone Thinks

Remember, you are responsible for protecting your health. Someone may give you that ‘wow she's a germaphobe’ look, but who cares! You'll likely never see those people again. For me, I would rather look foolish than get the flu! To be courteous, I always offer my neighbor a wipe just in case they want a clean seat as well.

Rental Cars

On average 130,000 Americans rent cars on a daily basis in the US alone. Again, that's a lot of people and as we know almost half of people out there openly admit to not attempting to wash their hands. The most contaminated areas in a rental car are as follows: the steering wheel, door handles, gear shifts, trunk, air vents, dashboards, armrests, seat belts and fasteners, cup holders and glove compartments.

Fix the Problem

Your handy sanitizer wipes are important here as well. Wipe these high bacteria prone areas down thoroughly. Once you sanitize your rental car, you don't have to do it again. Unless you're sharing the car with someone you don't know or trust. You can also get trial or travel size disinfectant spray which is easier to sanitize the trunk, vents and dashboards.

Hotel Rooms

Okay this is where it really gets gross. Hotel rooms are notorious for harboring pathogens. On average, 6 to 7 million people check into hotels on a daily basis. In addition, hotels are keeping staff to a minimum which includes hotel maids. With hotel staff being overworked and paid so little, you can be sure maids are going to miss something when it comes to cleaning individual rooms.

A 2023 study found that hotel cleaning services either miss certain parts of motel/hotel rooms or cross-contaminate when servicing a room.

For example, if a hotel maid cleans a toilet with a rag, the maid will use that same rag to clean the room's drinking glasses. Yes, glasses guests use to drink water from! Paying more for a hotel room doesn't necessarily mean you're immune to poor cleaning habits.

These cleaning discrepancies can mean battling bed bugs, E-coli, fecal bacteria, cold and flu viruses including Staphylococcus bacteria (Staph). Pathogens are found primarily on bathroom counters among other highly touched surfaces.

Fix the Problem

Enough of how disgusting a room can be. Let's fix the problem. You're going to need several disinfectant wipes to fix this issue. First, let's talk about bed bugs.

Bed Bugs

When in your hotel room, use your cell phone flashlight to check the mattress, headboards and other room furniture for bed bugs. If you see something, take a picture and tell hotel management immediately. Demand a new room (not next to the infected room) or check out and go to a different hotel. Most importantly, make sure your belongings are protected. If you have soft luggage, put it into a large plastic bag. In turn, if you have hard covered luggage, keep your suitcase closed.

Disinfect Room

Hopefully you won't have a problem with the creepy crawlies. Regardless, you should always take precautions to keep germs in your hotel room to a minimum. Get that pack of disinfectant wipes you used for your airline seats and/or rental car. Wipe down the following: TV remote, door knobs, light switches, telephone, bathroom surfaces and other frequently touched items. Don't forget to clean drinking glasses!

I took an impromptu trip to Poland with my nephew. Everything was rushed and jumbled. I didn't think to use the cleaning practices I normally do when I'm traveling. That coupled with being around teenage boys, I got sick. I mean really sick with some weird flu. It took me 3 months to get healthy. So you better believe I will always remember to take these simple steps to keep myself healthy.

More and more people are traveling and with that comes the bugs that they carry. You don't have to be immuno compromised to see that cleaning habits are a good idea when you're on vacation. However, if you do have immune system deficiencies, wiping things down can make the difference from enjoying your vacation or spending time in bed during or after your vacation.

So take those few easy steps to keep yourself healthy and enjoy your vacation!