Are you flying sneezy-jet? Institute of Sport chiefs issue advice for athletes travelling to Tokyo Olympics on how to avoid picking up germs on planes
- Major sporting body revealed how to avoid catching colds and flu from planes
- Golden rule is to avoid a seat near the toilets, English Institute of Sport has said
- Viruses spread on passenger jets because of low humidity and air conditioning
Among the souvenirs holidaymakers bring back, perhaps the most unwelcome is the cold or flu caught on the crowded passenger jet that flew them there.
However, a major sporting body has come up with suggestions to make us less susceptible to such coughs and sneezes.
The golden rule is to avoid a seat near the toilets, according to the English Institute of Sport, which provides advice for professional sportsmen and women.
Viruses spread on passenger jets because of low humidity and air conditioning (stock image)
It has released advice for athletes travelling to the Tokyo Olympics in July to help them tackle the heightened risk. But you don’t have to be able to run the 100m in ten seconds to benefit from its expert help.
Viruses spread on jets because of low humidity and air conditioning. The institute suggests sitting by a window to reduce contact with people in the aisle.
Passengers should also adjust their air conditioning to create a ‘cone of protection’, and clean armrests with disinfectant spray.
The golden rule is to avoid a seat near the toilets, according to the English Institute of Sport, which provides advice for professional sportsmen and women (stock image)
Dr Craig Ranson, its director of athlete health, said the biggest danger was respiratory illness.
He added: ‘We are giving guidance about how athletes can clean their seat and where to sit so the air conditioning leaves them less exposed to bugs from other people in the plane.
‘We ran an illness prevention campaign last year, too, and whether it was a direct result or not we had 40 per cent less illnesses last January than previously.’