GRIOTS REPUBLIC - AN URBAN BLACK TRAVEL MAG - OCTOBER 2016

air making passengers sick is really
an urban myth of sorts. The fact of
the matter is airplane air is not bad
for you at all.
Air from the outside is pressurized,
mixed with filtered interior air and is
maintained with low humidity. This air
is typically free of 94 to 99 percent of
airborne germs. The operative word
here is airborne. The very last thing
frequent flyers should be concerned
about is the air quality. The real problem
is your fellow passengers.
Hygiene seems to be extremely lax
among most passengers who have
been frequently observed by airport
employees rushing from flight to
flight after using the restroom and
have completely “forgotten” to wash
their hands. Combine that with a sick
passenger or two, and your armrest,
overhead bin handle and even the
headrest now become petri dishes.
We won’t even discuss the seat pocket
in front of you. Aisle seats are the
most likely suspects due to continuous
contact. One flight attendant said
she goes through several bottles of
hand sanitizer a week. Some health
zealots have been observed wiping
down their seating area prior to settling
in for their journey.
So, when you combine the germ laden
surfaces, jet lag associated with
long flights, and the stresses associated
with travel, only caution and vigilance
will keep you healthy.