INVESTORS
NEWSROOM
Responsibility
SUBSCRIBE
CONSUMERS
HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS
CAREERS
ABOUT ABBOTT
During COVID-19: Here Are 5 Air Travel Health Tips
Best practices and good advice for being safe while you're traveling by plane during the pandemic.
As we approach one full trip around the sun since COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic, nearly a year of proactive measure-taking and staying home combined with the prospect of warmer weather returning to the northern hemisphere can make even the most ardent social distancers dream of a spring trip somewhere — anywhere — outside their bubble.
As you contemplate potential plans, good habits old and new can help increase your chances of making it home without bringing back COVID-19 with your souvenirs.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — which recently "ordered all travelers flying to the U.S. from abroad will have to show proof of negative COVID-19 tests before boarding their flight," according to The Wall Street Journal — offers these COVID-19 specific tips for travels which, when combined with just good sense, can help make the difference.
1. The Fundamentals of COVID-19 Still Apply Being a global pandemic, COVID-19 is everywhere, including the new destination you're anxious to get to. Only the scenery changes, not the reality.
Before packing up, the CDC recommends:
2. Be Prepared for Anything One of the key health tips to keep in mind while traveling is to pack smart and be prepared. That's especially true during COVID-19. The American Academy of Family Physicians offers a valuable list of must-haves if you need some help with your packing list.
You're typically allowed to bring a small carry-on and a personal item onto the plane, so make sure that everything you need is accessible in those bags and that you know where to find these items without digging through your bags and disturbing your seatmate.
3. Wear Sunscreen (You've Been Couped Up) If you are a frequent traveler, you may be surprised to learn that there is an increased risk of skin cancer for pilots, according to a study in Environmental Health, as well as heightened risks of skin and breast cancer for flight attendants, according to the International Journal of Cancer. There is still more study needed in this field but since planes fly closer to the sun, it makes sense for frequent flyers to wear sunscreen.
4. Avoid Alcoholic Beverages on the Plane Even if you deal with anxiety and think a stiff drink will help calm your nerves, it's a better idea to skip the alcoholic beverages while flying. Reasons vary from the dehydration caused by alcohol in an already dry environment to the fact that alcohol affects a person more strongly because of the reduced oxygen in the air, as noted by aerospace medicine specialist Quay Snyder in an interview with the Washington Post. It could also make it more difficult to kick jet lag after you arrive at your destination. Stick to water and decaffeinated beverages until you touch down.
5. Flex Your Muscles One of the most classic air travel health tips involves avoiding deep vein thrombosis (DVT). For people who are prone to these serious health concerns — including those with poor circulation and those who smoke, are pregnant, have recently had a surgery or have heart disease or certain cancers — it's a good idea to take some precautions for DVT while flying. Here's what Harvard Medical School suggests:
If you have any concerns about DVT, don't hesitate to discuss them with your personal physician. They can provide specific guidance for your situation.
So as you plan your trip, following these pieces of advice can help you from getting tripped up. Enjoy. Be safe. And keep COVID-19 out of your mementos.