Air travel safety tips

On November 5, 2009, SmarterTravel offered tips for staying healthy while traveling, including some of the dirtiest parts of the plane you should avoid, especially during a highly contagious cold and flu season.

• Don't put your belongings in the seat-back pocket. Passengers store everything from used tissues to dirty diapers in there, making the pocket a holding tank for germs and bacteria.
• Ask for bottled water whenever possible; according to the EPA, the aircraft's holding tank water often contains total coliform bacteria.
• Avoid using blankets and pillows offered by the airline personnel, as they are rarely laundered and can harbor germs left by previous passengers.
• Wipe down the armrests and tray table with a sanitizing wipe.
• Use tissues to flush toilets and turn faucets and doorknobs in the bathrooms. Traces of E.coli can be found in many airplane bathrooms.
• Pack items in plastic bags to prevent germs from spreading to your personal items.
• Drink plenty of water and skip the onboard spirits, which can cause dehydration.

More travel advice: http://www.smartertravel.com/