Avoiding Sickness
 

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.

...........sorry I forgot I'm not a pilot yet so I shouldn't comment on this. I however avoid it by taking multi vitamins, especially C and D.

I have a feeling that you will never get the same answer on this one. Most people probably don't even think about it.

I would say it has everything to do with luck, and how strong of an immune system you have. I take vitamins, so I guess that helps... but I do it more for my eyes than anything. You could go the herbal route, but I dunno anything about that stuff. You could spend a fortune and take Airborne, but who knows if that stuff really works.

I also imagine that if you are an airline pilot and maybe have a kid, you will be exposed to every germ out there. In time you will be like nurses, immune to it all (or at least most of it).

Take some theraflu and be happy!!!!

-Quag

Oh yeah, be like me and wash your hands compulsively every chance you get :)

I think that you have asked an almost impossible question. Do your best by washing your hands, use "Purell" when ever you can, use alcohol swabs on the yoke and throttles, etc.. I think anything you do might help, but unfortunately, in our jobs, we must "rub elbows' with the great unwashed. Before I retired, I got sick at least every winter, usually in January or February. Since I quit flying, it is extremely rare that I get sick. Please don`t fly sick..I did it once, infected the copilot, and he spread it to his family...boy were they pi$$ed at me!

I just got some of that Airborne stuff. One of my friends recommended it. I'm not sure if it's working at all but it doesn't hurt to try.

I agree with you on this one. Wipe down the plane with alcohol swabs!! I also recommend wiping down the oxygen masks.

One day when I was working the line at an FBO years ago, one of our citations cranked up and was about to taxi out. Greg, our big fat mechanic, ran out to the plane and tapped on the little triangle window by the pilot. (Greg hates Tom)

Greg: Check that O2 mask for me
Tom: Ok ( took a few breaths ). Works good.
Greg: I just rubbed my sweaty balls all over that thing!!! (he then turns around and runs off)

I have never looked at O2 masks the same.

One note though, any alcohol based product (like purell) does not claim to kill viruses. That stuff primarily kills bacteria. So wash your hands!!!! =)

So if you get a cold during that 5 day trip ? What do you do? Can you call in sick during a trip ? I am asking because when it happens to me the worst part is the pain in my ears and sometimes on a international trip we can not be replaced so far away from home and it really sucks. There´s something new called "transfer factor" it is supposed to be an imune system booster. I don´t know if it really works and it is hard to find but it is not that expensive.

That reminds me of a flight attendant who got fired for swabbing the bowl of the lav with a pilot's dinner roll. The point being don't plan to eat a crew meal if you're being a jerk to the F/A's. Even if they aren't playing games, have you ever seen a F/A wash their hands or give a flip about food sanitation?

I'm an advocate of calling in sick when needed, and it's needed when your sick. Don't fly when your sick. (period)

Of course washing hands, getting plenty of rest, plenty of fluids, and plenty of exercise can help you avoid getting sick in the first place.

The last time I called in sick I had to sit in front of the chief pilot´s desk to explain it. It is a shame but it is how airlines are being managed in my country right now. How does US airlines and its pilots deal with the matter?