Anyone who has ever worked in a hospital knows that things aren't always as clean as they appear, including airplanes. For those travelers taking flight during the holidays, knowing where planes are germiest can reduce the chances of getting sick.
Many spots on airplanes are hotbeds for germs, and evidence suggests illnesses can spread aboard planes during long flights or when the ventilation system in the plane is turned off for an extended period of time, according to recent Forbes report.
Scientists and researchers uncovered some of the germiest places on airplanes to avoid and highlighted tips for travelers looking to avoid catching that seasonal cold or flu on their flight this year.
1. The drinking water on one in 10 airline flights is contaminated with bacteria. Staying hydrated to boost the immune system is important but perhaps doing so before boarding the plane is the safest bet.
2. Being within a two-seat radius of someone who is visibly ill puts passengers at a 7.7 percent greater risk of contracting H1N1, according to the report.
3. If possible, researchers suggest moving several seats away from visibly ill travelers.
4. If moving seats isn't possible, aiming the overhead vent to blow directly in front of the traveler's face may help steer some of the germs away.
5. Tray tables and armrests are covered in germs like influenza virus, nororvirus and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus given how often they are touched.
6. Seatback pockets and the magazines in those pockets are also particularly germ-ridden. Since passengers occasionally shove food, napkins and personal items into the seat pouches, they should be avoided.
7. Aisle seats are also germier that others since many people touch them as they walk passed, making the window seat that much more superior.
8. The airplane restroom is the germiest place on the plane, with tests consistently finding MRSA, flu virus, and "large amounts" of fecal bacteria, according to Forbes. Avoid the plane bathroom if at all possible to lower the risk of getting sick.
9. If the restroom can't be avoided, passengers should use their own hand sanitizer, even after washing their hands.
10. It doesn't hurt for travelers to clean their immediate surroundings with an alcohol-based hand wipe, according to the report.
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