In a poorly serviced office environment the air is often stale. Keeping windows closed just lets bugs circulate. It’s even worse to think about the closed environment of an aircraft. How often do you get sick after a flight? If there are always people coughing and sneezing on your aircraft, then probably the answer is, quite often.
Small business owners can’t afford to take time off.
Taking time off to nurse the early signs of an infection is usually not on the agenda of the small business entrepreneur. If they are sick they usually continue working and travelling. Given the airline penalties for flight changes or cancellations, there’s extra incentive for us to keep going when the going gets tough.
Penalties for changing flights.
Standards have relaxed since the Swine Flu (H1N1) pandemic in 2009. When that was in full flight some airlines opted to waive flight-change fees for passengers to postpone their trips due to illness.Unfortunately that flexibility has not continued. Although we still see signs in waiting rooms asking us to report any flu symptoms, mostly they are now ignored. Airline staff have ceased to act as the health police when checking people on to flights. The panic has died down. For now.
Air Filters
HEPA FILTER
Modern airliners use HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filters to reduce the spread of airborne pathogens in re-circulated air. They are composed of a mat of randomly arranged fibres which trap small pollutants and particles. You may be familiar with HEPA as many vacuum cleaners also use them as part of their filtration systems.
Ideally microbial contaminant levels are kept low inside an aircraft due to the complete exchange of inside cabin air 15 times per hour and the high filtration capability of the recirculation system. That is, if it is working to capacity and if the air changes frequency is followed.
I have my doubts. The number of travelers who become sick indicates all is not well.
What we often put down to stress or travel could better be described as ‘airline flu’. One concerned and well informed friend has researched this situation through his wide network of doctors, airline forums, airline associations and his personal connections with airline engineers. Reports back to him have indicated that the filtration systems are sommonly only operating at 40% capacity and when they are replaced, they are totally black.
Close the vents
If someone is coughing and sneezing, those germ molecules are diffusing instantly and rapidly through the cabin. In poorly filtered air, if you don’t protect yourself, if your immune system is not robust, you can expect to get sick. Contrary to the instinct to switch them to full blast, turn off the air vents above your seat. It takes a good ten miserable days to get over a cold or flu. Save yourself the time and trouble. My friend’s doctor recommends we carry a little arsenal against contaminated air:
- a saline nasal spray,
- an anti bacterial hand gel,
- eucalyptus oil to sprinkle on a handkerchief if someone nearby is coughing and sneezing,
- throat lozenges such as Anticol
All of liquids have to be in sizes of less than 100ml. (3.4 oz) to avoid confiscation at the airport screening counter. If you don’t mind looking slightly alien, a surgical mask can help protect you both while awake and asleep.
It pays to stay healthy.
Hi Julia,
That’s what I would call a very relevant post, talking about serviced office. I think this information would be very useful to anyone looking into making a choice for renting an office.
And it’s a good health information as well.
Ben Wan
Ben Wan recently posted..What is RSS Feed How Do You Use RSS Feed
Offices are often sick buildings as well. The airconditioning in many buildings is rarely cleaned and is a hotbed for molds, bacteria and other nasties to accumulate and circulate through the closed office building. We have great results with airfilters – they can used properly and by reasearching a quality filter, make a huge difference to many health problems. We have had mothers overjoyed with using a quality airfilter in the allergic child’s bedroom.. better sleep, less ‘itchy eyes’ less congestion. So if you think your bedroom, your house, or your office is sick.. think about investing in a good quality portable airfilter.
and one more tip.. to stay healthy on a flight make sure you drink and drink and drink.. no alcohol.. just copious amounts of water! The body will be less stressed and you will deal with the floating bugs more easily.
Shazar Robinson recently posted..Juice Fast Day Five
Hi Ben, Thanks for your visit. It’s nice to see an WordPress specialist reading health posts ! You have to stay healthy while fixing and updating websites. So many people depend on you.
I was taken aback when I understood how little attention was given to the maintenance of air-filters in aircraft, and people sit there sneezing and coughing without even covering their mouths.
My inclination would previously have been to turn up the air vent above the seat, but not now! I’ll pull out the eucalyptus and cover my nose.
Our serviced offices are carefully designed for health and wellbeing – with individual filters that are regularly removed.
I notice the comment from Shazar refers to the benefits of air filters – it’s a great idea to have one near a computer.
Julia Hayes recently posted..A solar passive house – what’s that
Hi Shazar,
Is a fitted wall air filter on the air-conditioner vent different to an air cleaner? I have an expensive home ‘ioniser’ about the size of a radio that has vibrating needles. It seems to work really well. Which brand do you recommend?
Good point about drinking plenty of water – those glasses of wine are very tempting when they are offered (“after all,” I justify “I’m paying for them”) but if I keep away from alcohol I arrive so much brighter.
Nice to have you visit. I love all the health tips on your Best Health site.
Julia Hayes recently posted..Staying healthy is good for business
Yes Julia. there are many types of air filtration.. yours is possibly an Elanra ioniser (?) which is a different unit – mainly used for negatively ionising the air.
I am not sure about your fitted wall filter. We have been using the Healthstart Ion range.. they have big ones suitable for large office areas and small personal size ones for the bedside table. Our clients have good results with them and they are very reasonably priced.
I guess that’s what we go on.. do people notice the difference when they use them and what effect does it have on health conditions? They work well.
and by the way derinking lots of water helps lots of things too.. its a great fix for an asthma attack.. hydration is one of the most important health helps you can do!
thanks for the great blog.
Shazar Robinson recently posted..Obesity and Weight Loss Perth
The problem is that we rely on others doing the right thing but unfortunately a lot of the times they don’t and it’s all because of cost saving measures.
I don’t like flying so unfortunately I usually have the vent on full blast with it pointing right at me as it helps with the travel sickness. Reckon I prefer that than having to spew all over the place
Sire recently posted..Of Links Lists And Other Blogging Matters
Um…too much information Sire !
Julia Hayes recently posted..Learn English On-Line
Actually that’s nothing. My wife well knows that she can’t talk to me during a flight because I have to concentrate on not being sick. Well on this one flight I had to sit next to this woman, and she wouldn’t shut up! At least not until I had to spew up in on of those bags.
Sire recently posted..To Moderate Or Not To Moderate- That Is The Question
Yuk! Avoid! Avoid!
I wonder if we could submit a ‘search-hashtag-Sire’ to Qantas so you come up on the manifest and we know if you’re on the same flight ?
An idea for a new ‘flying companion avoid’ app ?
Julia Hayes recently posted..Learn English On-Line
Now there’s an idea
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Good post Julia. Fortunately I don’t relate to the office environment part very well because my office is in a building about 100 feet from my house and I share that only with my two dogs. No few sick co-workers to deal with.
However, the part about not taking time off to get over a bug at it’s onset smacks me right in the kisser. When I get one, which is rare – I do find that the best way to stay healthy is to avoid people
– I tend to do the macho thing and tough it out so I don’t fall behind. Sometimes that works, it just takes far longer to recover. Sometimes I end up face down in the dirt somewhere before I admit that it’s time to go to bed and stay there.
OK, that face down in the dirt thing only happened once.
Thanks for sharing!
Allan Douglas recently posted..The Stylish Schlepper
Hi Allan,
Trouble with ‘flu is that you wake up feeling better, you go out, then it hits you at night. Next day rinse and repeat. By Day 5 it’s grabbed you. I almost never get it but am guilty of the same cavalier thinking.
A lot in common – my office is the next building to home. A one minute walk – no traffic – a French cafe nearby – a gor-gee-ous decor – it’s my own wonderful space (photos on demand). Across the hall is the Swanbourne Business Centre [business-like decor].
Hey thanks for the visit – my honour indeed.
Julia Hayes recently posted..A solar passive house – what’s that