Imagine arriving at the airport on time, boarding the plane, and quickly finding your seat. Many people sit down and relax and enjoy the flight, hoping to arrive at their destination safely. However, emergency doctors say that for the sake of hygiene and health, plates and tables should be disinfected and sunscreen applied before takeoff.
The HuffPost reported that emergency physician Anita Patel said that tray tables in airplane seats are used by many people every day to eat, drink, and read. Children may want to lick the table, so she must disinfect the tray table before using it every time she takes a flight. Cleaning staff had to wait until passengers left before entering the cabin to clean, and time was very limited, so it was impossible to wipe down every plate table. There might be gastrointestinal germs on the table, so the first thing she did after sitting down was wipe down the table with antibacterial wipes.
Many viruses can survive on the table for a long time, and some bacteria can stay for more than a few hours, Patel said. According to the Cleveland Clinic, cold germs can survive on surfaces for up to a week, flu viruses can survive for up to 48 hours, and COVID-19 can survive for hours to days.
Because there are currently no regulations that clearly require airlines to clean tray tables, the responsibility falls back on the passengers. A small study by travel website Travelmath found that plate tables on planes or airports were the dirtiest places, with twice as much bacteria as the next dirtiest water station. Particularly with babies and toddlers who put their hands in their mouths at any time, Patel said the first few minutes after sitting down are critical for cleaning the plate table; she also cleans the areas around herself and her family, such as the cover of the armrest where the plate table is stored.
Patel said that the sunshine at high altitudes is great when flying, but many people do not realize that ultraviolet rays at high altitudes are more harmful than on the ground. Although they can choose their own seats, they cannot control the surrounding position. Although a parasol can prevent sunburn to a certain extent, it cannot block ultraviolet rays that can cause skin cancer and aging; if the pre-trip planning was more organized, she would also wear protective clothing.
Patel said that seat belts are very important. She and her children will wear seat belts as long as they sit. The cumulative safety effects of these small behaviors can protect themselves and their families. These extra measures should not increase psychological stress, especially as traveling should be relaxing and it’s not about perfection, but about doing your best.