This holiday season, you may be preparing to travel. Whether you’re flying to spend time with extended family this Christmas, or you’ve decided to take a trip abroad for the New Year, the airport is projected to start getting fairly busy. The airport is a hub of activity with people coming and going from all over the world. Unfortunately, this comes with the risk of being exposed to various illnesses.
When traveling this holiday, it’s more important than ever to protect yourself from getting sick. This blog will explore some tips for preventing illness at the airport. If you start feeling under the weather, visit the walk-in clinic at AFC Urgent Care Lyndhurst. Our experienced medical providers specialize in treating many different general illnesses, no appointment necessary.
What illnesses are common at the airport?
It’s more common for people to get sick at the airport due to the increased time spent in close proximity to other people. Viral illnesses, like the flu, have a greater likelihood of spreading in environments like the airport. While being in an atmosphere of large crowds, it;s likely you might be exposed to various viral infections that your body hasn’t come into contact with before. Therefore, you lack the protective antibodies to keep you from not getting sick.
A few viral illnesses spread at the airport include:
- Influenza
- Colds
- RSV
- COVID-19
- Norovirus
- Pneumonia
How can I prevent getting sick while traveling?
There are a few simple steps you can take to better increase your chance of staying healthy while traveling. First, make sure to wash your hands often throughout the day. Hand washing is especially important at the airport, and one of the most effective ways to reduce the spread of germs and prevent getting sick. Wash and sanitize your hands after touching shared surfaces– including check-in counters, security checkpoints, and restroom door handles.
Next, avoid touching your face while traveling. Germs can very easily spread from your hands to your eyes, nose, or mouth, which can in turn cause illness. To prevent this, try to avoid touching your face as much as possible. Additionally, If you’re immunocompromised, consider wearing a mask and gloves. Wearing a face mask is proven to help protect you from breathing in germs and contracting an illness, as we learned through the pandemic.
Visit AFC Urgent Care Lyndhurst for Illness Treatment
If you are experiencing any illness symptoms this holiday season, visit AFC Urgent Care Lyndhurst today with no appointment necessary. We can diagnose various viral infections and offer treatment options to get you feeling better fast. AFC Lyndhurst is open seven days a week, with walk-in visits always welcomed and most major insurance carriers accepted. Low-cost treatment is available for self-paying patients. For more information about holiday travel safety, or other urgent care services we provide, call us directly at (201) 345-3839.
