Keeping Kids safe from Virus' on an Airplane....

[ThreeMusketeers]

Hi, Just wondering if you all had any plans or ideas on how to keep small children as safe as possiable from germs on an airplane.
Not a germ crazed person..but me being a SAHM, and my dd not in preschool yet..and we rarley make trips to the mall or anything. So, we have never been hit with any really bad flu's or anything.(Thank God) Traveling in the Winter months makes me a bit nervous. I know washing hands, and that, but do any of you plan to take any EXTRA precaution on the airplanes??

 

[HappyMommy2]

In the weeks leading up to our trip I have just been extra careful to make sure the whole family is eating right, taking daily multivitamin, and getting enough exercise and rest. We will have Purell handy during our trip and will use it often. I will probably wipe down the airplane armrests and tray tables with an antibacterial wipe and we will do plenty of normal handwashing. I did buy some Airborne and Airborne Jr. and may see if we can stomach a few doses of that. I doubt it does anything but I suppose it wouldn't hurt.
I don't worry too much about germs in regular life (I don't go around wiping things with antibac wipes!) but for vacation I am being a bit extra careful!

 

[Tinkbellfan]

I travel often with my 5yo DD. I always wipe down the airplane seat area including the tray, armrests, airflow controls and phone/tv screen. We also use airborne jr. and keep a healthy lifestyle before the trip. I try to politely ask our friends if their kids are healthy (at the time) before we do a playdate. I'm not a germ nut, but I have had a few bad days of vacation due to colds (DD 4th birthday at CRT - she had a bad cold and slept thru most of it).

Just pack your standard meds "just in case" and hope for the best. I hope you have a great trip!

 

[kristielee]

Having a child with a serious heart defect, I can totoally relate. We pack hand sanitizers, wipes (for seat, arm rests, and especially tray tables). I once read an article about what was cultured off of an air plane tray table...believe me, you don't want to know! I am also pretty fanatical about hand washing (have to be) and consistently gently remind my kids to keep their hands and fingers away from their face.
I don't like flying during cold and flu season (in fact, last year, the kids were fine, I came home sick as a dog!), but I also pack the standard pedi tylenol, sudaphed, etc... There's no fun having to run out in the middle of the night to find some when you've got a miserable kid.

Also, probably most importantly whil in the parks, HAND WASHING, HAND WASHING, HAND WASHING. Especially before meals. we've been very lucky ( can you tell I'm just a little bit neurotic about this), but I've had to be. Other kids get sick, my son gets pneumonia.

Have a wonderful, safe and healthy trip!


Kristie

 

[JodyLynC]

I learned this from a Pharmacist because my DH would get sick every time he flew. Before leaving for your flight, take a q-tip and rub it with neo-sporin. Rub the q-tip along the inside of your nose. I guess it kills germs as you are inhaling them.

 

[Drizzo67]

Jody - What a wonderful idea. My DS (10) has asthma and catching a cold while on a trip to Florida would be totally devistating. He and I would probably spend all our time in the room on the Nebulizer. This seems like a good way to avoid that.

I couldn't agree more with the HAND WASHING......We live with Purell in everyone's bags - even the kids' backpacks for school. They can't always get to a sink and use it when they leave gym, come in from recess, borrow another classmate's scissors, etc. I guess I have made them a little fanatical about it too but after my DD(7) had the flu last year (DS got his shot before the shortage - high risk) I won't take anymore chances. She was completely wiped out, lost over 7 lbs and really looked near-death. She's tiny for her age to begin with and this made it even worse. We even wipe down the counters, dressers, toilets, etc. with Clorox wipes when we check into our resort.

You can never be to safe when it comes to the health of your kids.

 

[ZuZugal]

My pediatrician suggested the flu shot (DS2) and flu mist (DD10, DS12). We'll be flying in a month and he said this would be a great precaution to take. We got it taken care of the other day. No one ever wants to spread germs, but most people don't know they are spreading their flu germs until well after the time they have become sick!
Ditto the other responses to and wipes/sanitizers as well.

 

[CleveRocks]

I learned this from a Pharmacist because my DH would get sick every time he flew. Before leaving for your flight, take a q-tip and rub it with neo-sporin. Rub the q-tip along the inside of your nose. I guess it kills germs as you are inhaling them.

I know a lot of people don't like physicians' opinions, but I had to run this idea by my pediatrician wife. She said swabbing the nostrils with Neosporin might do more harm than good. In her medical opinion, it's not going to kill any bacteria or viruses inhaled through the nostrils. The bad news is that it WILL kill the healthy bacteria that live in the nostrils, and killing off the resident healthy bacteria will stop them from doing their jobs and might actually open the body up to infections that would otherwise not have been allowed in.

A word of caution about Flu Mist: It's been shown to be safe and effective, and I'm guessing the only reason a pediatrician recommended it for pre-teens (who are not in a high-risk group) over the flu vaccine is there might again be a shortage of vaccine and the doc wanted to make sure he/she had enough on-hand for the high-risk patients in his/her practice. The caution about Flu Mist is that someone who takes it must, for about a week or so, avoid people whose immune systems might be weak. Flu Mist is actual live flu virus. So if you have a family member, for example, who's undergoing chemotherapy, don't let a Flu Mist user be near that person for a week or so. So my recommendation, based on what my wife tells me, is please try to avoid giving Flu Mist to your kids less than one week before you board an airplane. If there's anyone nearby on that plane who has a weakened immune system, they stand an increased risk of contracting flu due to being near someone who newly received Flu Mist.

Normal germs are a normal part of life. We can take reasonable precautions but catch a bug, anyway. I hate to think there are people avoiding "normal" events in life in order to stay away from germs, just like I hate to think there are people who do the same due to fear of terrorist attacks. Boats are safest when they stay in harbor, but they weren't built for that purpose.

-- Eric

 

[KerriMc]

We are hoping this year is better for our youngest DD, who will be 2.5 yrs when we go in March. On her first trip down in 2004, at the age of 7 months she came down with RSV. On her second trip in 2005, she came down with the Norwalk virus. Neither trip has been fun for her (or us ). Poor thing!! Our oldest has been fine both times!

We took our doctor's advice to stay hydrated on the plane ride down for our second trip, but it obviously didn't help her. The vomitting and pooping was awful ... she was just getting back to herself the day before we flew home! I had brought children's Gravol (from home ... can't get this for kids in the US) ... but I brought the drinkable kind which of course she couldn't keep in her! So I searched for the suppository version, which we can buy over the counter here, but in the US there is another brand that is only available by prescription.

This time we are bringing the Gravol, and for sure wiping everything down where she sits on the plane. She is now old enough to be getting excited about "kissing 'Rella (Cinderella) ... so she HAS to be healthy for this trip or she will be upset. At least the last two times she didn't really know what she missed. Only we felt bad ... and dh - who stayed behind with her while I took older dd with my parents to WDW.

Thanks for the tips ... we've always done flu shots and will do that again too.

Kerri

 

[ThreeMusketeers]

Thanks for all the tips and ideas. I bought some Pureal Sanitation wipes today at Walmart and got the gell as well.
I guess thats the least we can do.

I hope everyone has a wonderful healthy vacation!!

 

[Schmeck]

Overuse of all these sanitizing wipes, etc, can really dry out your skin, causing it to crack, etc, and be more susceptible to viruses. And remember the flu shots don't protect you from anything besides the flu strain it was made for. It won't keep you from catching a cold!

Best thing to do - get plenty of sleep before the trip, eat well, and wash hands with soap and water before eating.

 

[Drizzo67]

Also don't forget vitamins. Some families I have talked to don't seem to remember to bring the kids vitamins with them for the trip. I did. Each morning my kids woke up to vitamins and a glass of OJ. I was a great way to start the morning. (even laid out DH's as well). Remember that often times when you are on vacation you don't eat a healthy as you would like and the vitamins can help to replenish your body as you are not getting it from your foods, plus all that running around delepetes you as well.

 

[PB'sMOM]

Just wanted to add my 2 cents. The last 3 times we have flown DD now 2.5 has gotten sick on the last day down there and come home sick. I try everything to keep her well on the trips, ie. washing hands, wiping things down. I truely believe it is the airplane air (or lack of). This last trip she started with a fever on the last day we were there. Flew home on the late flight. The next day she has a rash spread all over her body. I took her to the Dr. and was told it was the 3 day measles-ARRGH. I am so disgusted with flying I don't even want to fly to my folks place for the holidays.
Hopefully our next trip we can drive.

 

[Kes]

Overuse of all these sanitizing wipes, etc, can really dry out your skin, causing it to crack, etc, and be more susceptible to viruses. And remember the flu shots don't protect you from anything besides the flu strain it was made for. It won't keep you from catching a cold!

Best thing to do - get plenty of sleep before the trip, eat well, and wash hands with soap and water before eating.

I work in the infection control department at a hospital. And surpsisingly enough, the sanitizing wipes such as purrell have so many softeners added, that studies prove they are less drying to the hands than regular soap and water. And since most people don't wash their hands correctly anyway (and doctors are the worst offenders), protect better than plain soap & water. But overuse of any cleaning product does remove oil - so use plenty of skin softener regardless of which product you use to clean with

 

[jcriket]

I'm not sure if anyone has said this yet, but there is this medicine called airborne and It helps protect you from getting sick. I'm not sure if its for kids but you could always check.

 

[tjmw2727]

I am not a germ freak and normally don't do the "wipe down" thing but I always wipe the trays and armrests on the airplane.

The only other extra precaution I take on the airplane is that nobody has a drink with ice or made with airplane water. Honestly since we started bringing our own water/juice or even coffe on board nobody has gotten sick. Its important to keep hydrated in the air but we don't do airline drinks anymore.

My mil tried using wipes, airborne, echinacia (sp?) everything under the sun because she seemed to get something every time she flew. A friend of hers was the one who recommended not drinking anything with airplane ice or water and since she has done this, knock wood, she hasn't gotten sick from flying.

I pack a soft sided cooler with a few frozen water bottles and some other bottled drinks or juice boxes. The frozen water keeps it all cold and gives us some frosty water for later in the flight or arrival at the airport.

Have a great trip.
TJ

 

[all4fun]

I have heard putting plain petroleum jelly in your nose helps because the moisture it provides helps keep airborne germs from traveling up your nose and infecting you. Don't know if that's true but I don't see how it could hurt to try it!

We also do the wipe down with sanitizing wipes on the airplane and I carry alcohol based hand sanitizer with me everywhere and use it frequently. I don't have a problem with it drying my skin out. Sometimes cold dry winter air will dry my skin out but that would be the only time using hand sanitizer would bother me. Anyway, here's an interesting article about hand washing in general and an excerpt on hand sanitizer:

Proper use of an alcohol-based hand sanitizer
Alcohol-based hand sanitizers — which don't require use of water — are an excellent alternative to hand washing, particularly when soap and water aren't available. They're actually more effective than hand washing in killing bacteria and viruses that cause disease. Commercially prepared hand sanitizers contain ingredients that help prevent skin dryness. In fact, use of these products can result in less skin dryness and irritation than hand washing.

Not all hand sanitizers are created equal, however. Some "waterless" hand sanitizers don't contain alcohol. Use only the alcohol-based products.

To use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer:

* Apply it to the palm of your hand. Read the label for dosing instructions.
* Rub your hands together, covering all surfaces of your hands, until they're dry.

If your hands are visibly dirty, however, wash with soap and water rather than a sanitizer.

from CNN.com

 

[russtwinsmom]

Wanna know something interesting? We may actually have it all backwards!

My kids lived in separate orphanages for the first two years of their lives. They were malnourished (son even had rickets and TB), all the kids in the orphanages seemed to be sporting colds while we were there and there was never any hand washing that we saw. While the buildings were clean, the kids were grubby, and I am sure that they were bathed once or twice a month at best, usually in cold water. There was no kleenex, soap, hand sanitizer...

Now almost eight, and home almost five years, my two have never vomited or had even the slightest of fevers. The only one around here who gets colds is my husband, whose mother was OC and made her kids take vitamins and wash their hands constantly as kids.

I really think that by being exposed to so many viruses and bacteria early on, that our kids developed the immune systems of tanks. I am weird about public bathrooms and washing hands after going to the bathroom, but am thinking that maybe a few germs here and there might actually be good for kids

 

[CleveRocks]

I really think that by being exposed to so many viruses and bacteria early on, that our kids developed the immune systems of tanks. I am weird about public bathrooms and washing hands after going to the bathroom, but am thinking that maybe a few germs here and there might actually be good for kids

I'm with you. When my wife first started as a pediatrician, she brought home just about every nasty cold and stomache bug there was. But after that first month or two we never got sick with that stuff, until we moved to another city. Different city, slightly different strains of bacteria and viruses.

And by the way, THAT is a better explanation for travelers' illnesses than "airplane air" -- on vacation, you are exposed to people from all over the world, and thus you are exposed to strange strains of bugs that your immune system has never encountered before and doesn't know how to fight. Yes, of course, an airplane is a closed system with a lot of people in it, so of course we might catch more bugs in there than in the outside world. But you can't discount all the time you've spent at the vacation destination, either, ESPECIALLY as some posters said, when their family members got sick at the end of the vacation. It sort of reminds me of what happened on a cruise I went on as part of a group of 43 people. Most of us were in our 20s. Most of the people ate poorly and drank incessantly; I've never seen so much wine/beer/liquor, and I lived in a fraternity house for 3 years! So after 5 days at sea and 5 days of drinking and drinking and drinking, about 10 of the people started feeling queasy much of the time. Did they blame the poor diet and the drinking. NO! They figured they were seasick (yeh right, like they suddenly got seaick after 5 days), and went to the nurse for scopolamine patches!

-- Eric

 

[HappyMommy2]

Wanna know something interesting? We may actually have it all backwards!

I really think that by being exposed to so many viruses and bacteria early on, that our kids developed the immune systems of tanks. I am weird about public bathrooms and washing hands after going to the bathroom, but am thinking that maybe a few germs here and there might actually be good for kids

I agree completely. Just not on vacation (or immediately prior to vacation)! I am a germaphobe when it comes to vacations!