Anti-Bacterial Wipes a Necessity in the Cabin, Definitely
Some will be thinking, “I won’t be taking any wipes with me and do the cleaning others should have done for me”. I’ll guarantee you, you will get strange looks from other passengers if you start doing the wiping and cleaning after sitting down in your seat. They do it to make you feel out of place as most won’t bother. But there is no dodging this fact; airline pilots and cabin crew recommend antibacterial wipes. Why? Because they know their workplace and know what goes on.
Do I agree with them? Wholeheartedly even though I haven’t asked them specifically. I have always suspected the airplane cabin to be a place that harboured bacteria. I can tell you this through observation. Others should do the same and look what some passengers get up to then realise there is a problem.
Where there are lots of people there are germs. Especially in cramped spaces like the cabin of an aircraft. Here you’ll find them on most surfaces: the tray table, seatbelt buckles, lavatory door latches, bulkheads, etc. Virtually everywhere human hands (and feet) can get to. Other nasties can be found in the cabin, in the air; mainly from people sneezing and coughing. Some of these germs end up on surfaces eventually. However not all of them are your common bacteria, some are viruses that are much worse and have the potential to cause severe illness, even death in a few people if not treated in time.
Since the hysteria of COVID-19 more and more people are starting to understand the importance of disinfection and the wiping down of surfaces, more so than anywhere else in the confined space of the plane cabin. COVID-19 may have been the catalyst for some travellers to take action but many were already doing so. Especially anyone that has children and has been in contact with the germs kids bring home from early learning centres and kindergartens. This is the Norwalk virus or Norovirus. It causes gastroenteritis. The classic guts ache etc. Also well known by many who go cruising, where it seems there’s an outbreak every-now-and-then.
The common symptoms of the Norovirus are vomiting, diarrhoea, and stomach cramping. There are other less common symptoms that can include low-grade fever or chills, headache, and muscle aches. The symptoms usually arise 24 or 48 hours after ingesting the virus, but may appear as early as 12 hours after exposure.
The Norovirus will incapacitate you for a short time; enough to wreck the beginning of a holiday or a return home. So taking those precautionary steps is justified. The surfaces around you are better kept clean, especially those where you’ll be eating on.
I’ve seen disturbing things on YouTube and in real life what people do on planes. One of my pet peeves are people that walk around barefoot to the lavatories, then place their bare feet on bulkheads, arm rests, tray tables and back of seats. A disgusting habit that certainly will spread bacteria and possibly viruses. Also parents with babies that do not have access to a bassinet or are too lazy to go to one of the lavatories; they do nappy (diaper) changes at the tray table. Food scraps and dried food (could be dried vomit) from a previous flight trapped inside the seatbelt buckle or lodged within the swivels of trays and armrests harbour germs. Smeared touch screens, perhaps from a child, etc. The list goes on. Where there is grime there’s bacteria, where there are sick people (sneezing/coughing) there could well be viruses.
I know how things are as on one trip back from Singapore I had my son with me who unfortunately felt sick and vomited without notice. It was my fault for pushing him to eat what he didn’t want. He managed to throw up onto his lap with most ending up on his jeans and only a little on the seat. I called the FAs but they didn’t want to help and only gave me some small towels. By rule the FAs don’t want to handle anything that they can spread elsewhere, especially from someone who is sick. So I had to take the soiled towels and throw them into the trash myself. This was way before COVID-19 and the disinfecting of the cabin became normal practice before each flight.
I managed to get him cleaned as best as possible and take him to the lavatory where I wiped him down. The seat looked OK, but the question was would this seat be cleaned further before the next flight? With the short turnaround of an hour or so for the return flight I’m not sure this was possible. This is another reason to check your seat and its surrounds and perhaps wipe down as much as possible surfaces your hands will be in contact with.
As I have experienced this and a few other situations on planes I have doubts the cabin is cleaned and disinfected thoroughly even now post COVID-19. I suggest you will have to do this job yourself. So make sure you pack antibacterial wipes in your carry-on or in a bum bag/fanny pack where they’ll be handy and be prepared to take them out and wipe those surfaces. Don’t be embarrassed if others give you strange looks. You are doing the right thing and you will lessen the chance of getting sick on your travels. Remember even if you are unwell for a few days it could be enough to ruin the trip.
Cheers
