Originally Posted by
avi8tor4life
What do you do to keep yourself from getting sick while out on the line? In our line of work we come in contact with lots of people. So what does everyone do to avoid flus, and colds and such? And another thing, when sick how do you get better quickly. It's gotta suck to be out on a 4 day and come down with a cold the first day.
Maybe I'm thinking about this cause I'm down with the flu now. Day 3.
Good question, I had a rough winter my first year at the airlines, but I've stayed pretty healthy since then by educating myself (my college roomie's an MD) and being proactive.
Two things are needed to make you sick: Exposure and weakened immune defenses. A small exposure will likely not make you sick if your immune system is up to speed. A massive exposure or a strong virus can make you sick regardless.
First, reduce exposure. Most of our exposue comes from the filthy, diseased pigs in the back. Aerosol (airborne) bugs are NOT the real problem, it's actually infected snot residue on things that people touch.
-AVOID touching anything that the PAX touch (hand rails, door nobs, etc).
-Wash your hands with soap constantly, especially after touching pax-contaminated objects. Alcohol wipes can help, but with both soap/water and alcohol you have to give your hands a good scrubbing, not just a quick once-over.
-Avoid touching your nose and mouth with your hands while at work. You don't really need to, do you? This becomes second-nature with a little practice.
-Some guys wipe down they controls with alcohol wipes when they swap into an airplane. It is good etiquette to inform the oncoming crew if you are sick so they can do the wipe down.
Your immune system can do a pretty good job if you are healthy and well rested. These things all affect your immune system:
- Get the Flu shot as early as possible. If you don't you will lose a week every single winter.
- STAY HYDRATED! If you get dehydrated you will get sick in this business. The airplane atmosphere will dry you out, and so will 8 tequila shots at the hotel bar...
- Diet and execrise help. If you can't eat right on the road, vitamins will help.
- Being well rested helps, if the schedule allows.
Exercise, drinking, and flying all tire you out and deydrate you. If I do all three in one day, I will get sick, guaranteed.
The main illness we deal with is colds (you did get the flu shot, right?) Cold remedies that have zinc in them are proven to minimize the effects and duration of a cold. I carry a bag of cold-eze cough drops; as soon as I start to feel it coming on, I start popping them like candy...this will get rid of a cold in 24 hours for me (but read the directions). YMMV
Note: Pilots have an unusual problem. If you do get sick, you will contaminate your toothbrush. When you start to get better, it will try to re-infect you but your immune system will still be primed to fight it off for a few days (after which your toothbrush will be cleaned by normal use). Pilots however have two toothbrushes...one at home and one in the rollaboard. If you are sick at home you will contaminate that toothbrush. If you then go on a trip, your immune system will let it's defenses down as you get better. But when you get home, your home toothbrush can still be contaminated and give you a mild repaet of last week's cold...I used to wonder whhy I got sick every time I came home.