Tips On Avoiding Sickness During Air Travel

Move over snakes on a plane, there are millions of germs on your plane! If you plan to fly this weekend, you will want to gear up to battle the cold and the flu.

With 47-million people expected to travel at least 50 miles for Thanksgiving, someone is bound to be sick. And hopefully you aren't sitting next to them on a plane. But if you are there are a few ways to protect yourself.

One recent study found seat-back tray tables were “germiest” surfaces tested in an airplane, with about eight times more bacteria than flush buttons in the restroom. The obvious way to avoid it is to keep your hands clean. Washing your hands at least 30 seconds will get rid of those germs.

If you've got kids with you, they need to be reminded to wash hands too. Keep that hand sanitizer handy.

Keep your hands away from your face. And if you're sitting next to someone who appears to be sick, politely ask them to cover their mouth with a tissue so when they sneeze or cough they have something to block those germs.

Health experts say if you're on a plane, use the vent above you and have it come down over your nose and mouth.