{"id":2280,"date":"2017-12-04T20:32:26","date_gmt":"2017-12-05T01:32:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=2280"},"modified":"2025-11-05T16:48:29","modified_gmt":"2025-11-05T21:48:29","slug":"holiday-travel-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/holiday-travel-season\/","title":{"rendered":"Tips for staying healthy during holiday travels"},"content":{"rendered":"

Are you traveling over the holidays? You\u2019re certainly are not alone. Thanksgiving weekend kicks off one of the busiest travel seasons of the year. <\/span> Before the clock counts down into the New Year, millions of people will spread tidings of comfort and joy as they visit friends and family across the country. Unfortunately, they\u2019ll bring something a little Grinch-ier along with them: germs.<\/p>\n

Traveling under any circumstances can sometimes be a grim prospect. Jet lag, lack of exercise, and less-than-clean modes of transportation all contribute to the sluggishness many people associate with getting from point A to point B. Add a dose of holiday stress, which suppresses the immune system, or a particularly nasty cold and flu season, and getting sick while traveling seems almost inevitable. It doesn\u2019t have to be. If you would rather not deck the halls with boughs of tissues, follow these steps to keep your holiday travel happy and healthy.<\/p>\n

Planes, trains, and automobiles<\/h2>\n

Spending hours in a small enclosed space with a handful of coughing strangers may seem like a recipe for illness, but there are some steps you can take to avoid making their<\/em> germs your<\/em> germs.<\/p>\n

Planes<\/h3>\n

The battle begins before you even board that flight. Aside from some of the more obvious germ-collecting sources (for example, bathroom door handles) hotspots for infectious germs include touch screens for boarding passes, escalator handrails, and even loose utensils at the food court. If you have to touch one of these things, try to do so with your knuckles, not the tips of your fingers\u2014this way, you\u2019ll be less likely to transfer the germs to your eyes or mouth.<\/p>\n

Once you get on the plane, you might buckle your seatbelt, lean on the armrest, and put your magazines in the seat back pocket\u2014but these three places can harbor many unwanted germs. Pack some disinfecting wipes in your carry-on, and wipe down those surfaces before you settle into your seat. Surprisingly, during the flight, the air vent<\/a> may guard you against pathogens \u2014 some doctors reason that the airflow creates a wall of wind around your face, keeping healthy air in, and germs out.<\/p>\n

Public transport (ground)<\/h3>\n

If you\u2019re visiting a concrete jungle during your travels or taking other modes of public transportation, try to stay at least 6 feet away from anyone coughing or sneezing. Airborne droplets can travel, and you don\u2019t want them making your respiratory system their new home. Try to take a seat, if you can\u2014they\u2019re generally cleaner than holding on to a pole. If you have to hang on, use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol after you\u2019ve touched any public surface \u2013 clean hands are your best weapon against illness<\/a>.<\/p>\n

RELATED: Does hand sanitizer kill the flu?<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Car<\/h3>\n

Even if you\u2019re taking your own car, loading the whole family into an enclosed space for an extended period can still defeat the strongest immune systems. Kids<\/a> are notoriously germ-friendly\u2014keep a box of tissues near their seats, and encourage them to cover<\/a> their sneezes and coughs. They should throw used tissues, and any other trash, into a designated receptacle (like an empty cereal box lined with a garbage bag) for easy cleanup with no germs spread.<\/p>\n

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