Travel anxiety is not a reason to forget about safety. We suggest you familiarize yourself with the list of common mistakes made by air passengers to maintain health and well-being both during and after the flight. The following 7 things are dangerous to do on a plane.
Unshoe
Rarely does anyone walk around the cabin of an airplane barefoot, but such passengers still occur in their seats. However, even socks will not save you from all dirt – especially do not visit the toilet cubicle in them. No matter how clean the carpet seems, remember that you are in a public place with a lot of traffic. Take care of comfortable shoes in your hand luggage in advance so as not to suffer during the flight.
Unfastening seat belts unnecessarily
Many people rush to unbuckle their seat belts as soon as the corresponding sign goes out. In fact, for their own safety, passengers are advised to remain buckled up throughout the flight. Most injuries on board are related to turbulence – and serious consequences, as a rule, could have been avoided if the passenger had been buckled up. To avoid discomfort associated with the belt, try to loosen it, but do not unbuckle it completely. In the event of turbulence, you will be able to quickly tighten it more tightly.
Leave the toilet if there is shaking
If you happen to be in the toilet during turbulence, experts recommend staying there. Finish what you started, so to speak, and sit down on the toilet. It can be dangerous to leave the toilet urgently – because of the cart in the aisle and other loose objects that could theoretically injure you. If there is a line at the door, getting to your seat quickly can be even more difficult. Only leave when everything has calmed down or if the flight attendant asks you to do so.
Fall asleep during takeoff and landing
Sleeping at these stages of the flight is impossible for two reasons. Firstly, you must be alert in case of an emergency. Secondly, unconsciousness at a critical moment can lead to hearing damage. The fact is that the air pressure in the cabin changes dramatically – hence the pain in the ears. The easiest way to get rid of the unpleasant sensations is by swallowing or “exhaling” into a closed nose. In your sleep, you will not be able to do anything: there is a risk of barotrauma of the eardrum.
Leave the table open
It’s not for nothing that the crew checks that the tables are closed during takeoff and landing. When everything is going smoothly, the table is not dangerous, but if the landing is hard, you will get a serious blow to the stomach. If you really need the table to have a snack or work on your laptop, try not to lean forward too much. Turbulence can be a big surprise – you don’t want to hit your face on the folding “shelf”.
To endure thirst
The air in the cabin of an airplane is always dry for technical reasons – so it is not surprising that your mouth is dry. Do not be shy – boldly ask the flight attendant for water. As a rule, it is free even on low-cost airlines. Otherwise, you risk dehydration. For the same reason, experts advise to avoid coffee and tea, which have a diuretic effect. If possible, ask for water in a bottle – flight attendants have long revealed the dirty secret of other drinks on board airplanes.
Turn off ventilation
Fresh air enters the cabin through the engine compressor, passing through a complex air conditioning and cleaning system. What is supplied through the personal ventilation from above is approximately half-cleaned air from the cabin. Although the air in the cabin is completely renewed in a few minutes, the directed air flow protects you from viruses. It is even more important to leave the ventilation on during the flu season and if a neighbor shows symptoms of a viral disease.