Masks on airplane- see any lately?

[cats mom]

I doubt you'll see many masks, but if it makes you more comfortable, go ahead and wear it and don't worry about what other people think.

When DD and I flew home from Johns Hopkins after her chemotherapy her Dr's insisted she wear a mask. It was that or stay in Baltimore longer, and we had already been there over a month. We wanted to come home!

I wore a mask too, as a sign of support more than anything. I can tell you that they are extremely uncomfortable, and I guarantee you will get stares from folks who immediately think freak. So for those of you in the freak camp, maybe stop and re-think a bit. You don't always know the whole story.

 

[pearlieq]

I would think you're either sick yourself or a total nutter.

But, it doesn't really matter what anyone thinks of you, does it? They're not going to throw you off the plane for wearing them.

The more logical question would be will they actually protect you from anything? You're going to be in crowds and close quarters throughout the whole trip. Wearing them for a couple of hours on airplane isn't going to save you from anything.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I didn't see a single one on my Airtran flights this weekend.

Orlando to Atlanta and back.

You will be in a seat that was occupied by other people and at some point touching things by other people.

I think the mask is overkill unless you have a compromised immune system and it is needed to keep you safe.

And you say respirator masks--are we talking more than the simple mask?

 

[amyup]

We saw a couple of people wearing masks when we were in the Honolulu Airport...looked goofy.

 

[TDC Nala]

Saw a couple of folks wearing them at Penn Station (NYC train station) on Saturday but have not seen any anywhere else. I think I'm also curious to know if they're just for while aboard the plane or if you are thinking of wearing them whenever you're in a crowd. I'd think they'd detract from the enjoyment of a vacation.

 

[JessicaR]

OP - do what makes YOU comfortable and don't worry what others think.

Edited - I stand corrected.

 

[phorsenuf]

Hi everybody. Since I'm a paronoid germ-o-phobe rotfl2: ) I bought DH and I respirator masks (N95) to wear on the plane to florida on tuesday. Has anyone seen people wear these or will I look like a freak? We want to stay flu-free, and are generally healthy people, but we're just taking an extra precaution to protect ourselves. Will we give off a bad impression?

The OP is the one that asked about looking like a freak. The others answered.

 

[SnootyBear]

The OP is the one that asked about looking like a freak. The others answered.

Ive been reading the boards for a couple months prior to joining, and its a phenomenon around here, skimming posts, and reacting to one line.

 

[JessicaR]

The OP is the one that asked about looking like a freak. The others answered.

Thank you. I did read but missed the freak part. I guess having a child that had to wear a mask made me sensitive.

I apologize if I offended anyone.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

And you say respirator masks--are we talking more than the simple mask?

That's what I was wondering. I've never seen anyone wearing a mask on a flight I've been on but I wouldn't think anything of it (I am imagining a "mask" to be the kind like the people sometimes use that work at nail salons?). And I'm imagining a respirator mask to look like this:

Which, honestly, would look more strange (and looks really uncomfortable!) but I have bigger issues with passengers on planes. Like the woman who sat next to me and ate 3 smelly chili cheese dogs on my last flight .

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

You'd need that respirator mask (like in NeverlandClub's pic) with those chilli cheese dogs next to you!

 

[NeverlandClub23]

You'd need that respirator mask (like in NeverlandClub's pic) with those chilli cheese dogs next to you!

Hmmm...You're right, I may be purchasing one in case I get another smelly food encounter!

 

[Magic Mom]

I would think you were sick and would not sit next to you at all. I would also not let you near me and my family. If you tried to tell people you weren't sick I would think you were nuts. Your choice.

What she said.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

I'm getting pics of Michael Jackson running through my head.

 

[NatashaDisneyCM]

I went to disney in May when the outbreak first started. I have a chronic asthma thing going on. I bought N95 masks with me, I put them in my carryon, but I sat in the first row in plane and I was the first loaded, so I bought Lysol spray and hit all the seats in my area first...and did not need the masks. I have seen no one with them either.

I always carry just in case.

I will have to deal with this again in Jan. but I will get the H1N1 shot..

 

[laurie31]

N95 respirators block 95% (hence the name) of small particles which carry the viruses. I agree that the OP is just as likely to touch something contaminated and then touch her eye, and get infected that way in WDW as on the plane, but the air on planes is "stale" (for lack of a better word) so the germs from someone coughing at the back could wind up being inhaled by someone else, although I'm not sure if flu virus particles would circulate throughout the plane and if so, for how long. (eventually, the particles are going to fall out of the air).

N95 masks are MUCH more uncomfortable than "regular" masks- like doctors wear in surgery. They are hot, and you feel like you're rebreathing your own exhaled air. I can't stand to wear one for more than 5-10 minutes.

They look like this:

and also like this:

and yes, wearers look like DUCKS! We are using these where I work now, and we all quack at each other in them (NOT in front of the patients! Only at the desk! It's not the patient's fault we look like ducks!)


Anyway, most of my experience with people wearing masks in public have been those wearing "regular" masks because they are either cancer patients or organ transplant recipients. DD has a classmate whose father received a heart; he always wore a mask when he came to eat lunch with her at school. Doctor's orders. I didn't think he looked like a freak, but then I knew his story. (because he was very active in raising awareness for organ donation; everyone here knew his story.)

If the OP would feel safer wearing the N95 on a plane, then that's her choice, but I don't see how anyone would be able to wear it for the entire flight. I think anyone would be miserable in less than 30 minutes and be forced to take it off.

 

[C.Ann]

I would stay home before I would wear one of those masks.. While I believe that airplanes will be a hot bed for enhancing the spread of the flu, the masks would only offer minimal protection because you will still be touching many, many surfaces - both on the plane and off..

Will you wear them in the parks? How will you eat? How will you drink?

Seriously, if I were that concerned, I would just postpone the trip..

Good luck with whatever you decide to do..

 

[olena]

I saw masks on shoppers at the grocery store yesterday.

 

[cats mom]

If the OP would feel safer wearing the N95 on a plane, then that's her choice, but I don't see how anyone would be able to wear it for the entire flight. I think anyone would be miserable in less than 30 minutes and be forced to take it off.

DD had to keep hers on the entire 7 hour flight home from Johns Hopkins. Of course she hated it, but she did it.

I wore one too, but I cheated and bent the metal so it wasn't sealed as tightly to my face as it was supposed to be, and it was still horribly uncomfortable.

 

[donald&daisy]

On our flight to San Juan this past August I sat next to a lady who wore a mask. She just told me she wears one because she doesn't want to get sick, it didn't bother me in the least. Now on the flight home I sat next to another lady who I was convinced was going to drop dead by the end of the flight. She was so sick, it was the worst flight ever. I wish she had a mask! I wish I had a mask! Blech...however I did not get sick so maybe she just had really severe allergies. OP--wear the mask if you want. As a passenger, I wouldn't think much of it.