Travel tips to stay healthy on long flights
2010-04-02
With the summer fast approaching, millions of Americans are preparing to embark on lengthy summer vacations to destinations at home and abroad. Yet many vacationers will remain unprepared for the barrage of health risks involved in both international and domestic travel. Fortunately, there are several things that they can do to prepare.
One of the most important things for international travelers to do is to research the health conditions of their intended destinations. While many countries in the first world will retain similar health conditions to the U.S., travelers heading to more adventurous destinations in Africa and Asia might require certain inoculations before taking off.
Though the fervor over the H1N1 flu has died down somewhat in recent months, travelers might still want to invest in a breathing mask for lengthier flights. It is important to remember that an airplane is little more than a flying tube of recirculated air, meaning that one cough in first class could potentially spread germs throughout the whole plane. Furthermore, sanitary wipes may also be a good suggestion for fliers riding on more well-traveled airlines, and airline blankets might be an excellent investment to protect one's shoulder from any drool that may come from a careless sleeping seatmate.