Traveling can expose a person to a shocking amount of germs, and they can be found in the most unexpected places. Being prepared and knowing where the germs can hide can minimize the risk of infection.
Germs can live for a surprising amount of time on surfaces. For instance, the flu virus can survive on a hard surface for as much as 8 hours. According to WebMD there is a much greater chance of contracting illness from surfaces than air.
Savvy Travelers says airplanes are a particularly high source of germs. The tray table alone can contain over 2,000 colony-forming units of germs per square inch. On the plane the worst offenders are tray tables, restrooms, overhead air vents and seat belts. In the airport drinking fountain buttons are big sources of germs.
Most people expect that public restrooms will be germy. Watch out in particular for toilet flush handles, door handles and the sink areas.
Live Science says cell phones carry 10 times more bacteria than most toilet seats. Although bathrooms tend to be cleaned frequently, cell phones pick up germs constantly and are rarely cleaned.
Another particular source of germs is found in hotel rooms. Watch out for the television remote control and the light switch for the bedside lamp.
What’s a person to do? Savvy Travelers Tina Aldatz says to be prepared, and travel with cleaning wipes to sanitize surfaces. The company offers a number of wipes and sprays, as do Clorox and Lysol.
WebMD offers the following tips for avoiding germs while traveling. They recommend sanitizing “high touch” areas such as airplane seat armrests, tray tables and lavatory door handles. Try not to touch restroom surfaces by using a paper towel to turn off faucets and open doors. Don’t use airplane blankets or pillows unless you receive them in a plastic bag, which indicates they have not already been used. In hotels, wipe down the TV remote control, light switches, doorknobs, telephones and faucet and toilet seat handles.