Would a mask on the plane be REMOVED-O'-riffic?

[JudasGoat]

Lots of emails going around about h1n1 right now. I'm flying up to NYC next week and my mother is after me about wearing one of those nose and mouth masks on the plane. I know from experience that planes are great places to 'catch' something. But would this be overkill?

[Buffalo]

Lots of emails going around about h1n1 right now. I'm flying up to NYC next week and my mother is after me about wearing one of those nose and mouth masks on the plane. I know from experience that planes are great places to 'catch' something. But would this be overkill?
Well, the Town Supervisor we are working with on a project just got back from 4 days in Vegas. The trip there he sat next to a person that cough the whole flight. He got sick the next day, turned into bronchitis (he was sick for the entire Vegas trip, what fun!) and now two weeks later is finally starting to feel normal again. So, is the "embarrassment" of a couple hours wearing a mask worth the reward of possibly preventing a very unpleasant few days or even weeks? Up to you.

[JudasGoat]

Well, the Town Supervisor we are working with on a project just got back from 4 days in Vegas. The trip there he sat next to a person that cough the whole flight. He got sick the next day, turned into bronchitis (he was sick for the entire Vegas trip, what fun!) and now two weeks later is finally starting to feel normal again. So, is the "embarrassment" of a couple hours wearing a mask worth the reward of possibly preventing a very unpleasant few days or even weeks? Up to you.

and I AM ashamed to say that it is pride that the decision boils down to. I went up there for Christmas 2 years ago and the flights had all kinds of delays. I was in the airport or a plane for 14 hours. I was sick as balls the second day I was visiting and for the following 3 weeks. That sucked. But this thing is killing people, so that's quite a bit more inconvenient than a bad sore throat and cough.

[Buffalo]

and I AM ashamed to say that it is pride that the decision boils down to. I went up there for Christmas 2 years ago and the flights had all kinds of delays. I was in the airport or a plane for 14 hours. I was sick as balls the second day I was visiting and for the following 3 weeks. That sucked. But this thing is killing people, so that's quite a bit more inconvenient than a bad sore throat and cough.
I hear ya. The Sabres, our hockey team, are on a road trip this week. Their forward, Clarke MacCarthur, has the flu (probably regular strain). There is a story in the news about how the coach is making him wear a mask on the flight so he doesn't spread it to the rest of the team. If a hockey player can wear one, don't see why you shouldn't. I don't know how mush they help, but I'd be a little more vigilant.

[BillBrown]

Lots of emails going around about h1n1 right now. I'm flying up to NYC next week and my mother is after me about wearing one of those nose and mouth masks on the plane. I know from experience that planes are great places to 'catch' something. But would this be overkill?

You might have problems with security, trying to board a plane with a mask on.

[Apatriot]

Lots of emails going around about h1n1 right now. I'm flying up to NYC next week and my mother is after me about wearing one of those nose and mouth masks on the plane. I know from experience that planes are great places to 'catch' something. But would this be overkill?

H1N1, in a mild case, will end up costing you a week downtime. I would wear the mask and carry a few small bottles of hand sanitizer, and use it religiously.

[JudasGoat]

I hear ya. The Sabres, our hockey team, are on a road trip this week. Their forward, Clarke MacCarthur, has the flu (probably regular strain). There is a story in the news about how the coach is making him wear a mask on the flight so he doesn't spread it to the rest of the team. If a hockey player can wear one, don't see why you shouldn't. I don't know how mush they help, but I'd be a little more vigilant.

Do you happen to know what kind/if it is a special type? Like, I have some of the white yard/woodworking masks with the rubber band thingy. BUt maybe they only block large blobs of projected spittle and mucus.
Maybe what I'll do is embrace the embarrassment completely and draw something very silly on the mask. Like a giant, yawning mouth or maybe "bubba teef". Any suggestions there?

[BillBrown]

H1N1, in a mild case, will end up costing you a week downtime. I would wear the mask and carry a few small bottles of hand sanitizer, and use it religiously.

Masked carrying on bottles liquids?

[JudasGoat]

H1N1, in a mild case, will end up costing you a week downtime. I would wear the mask and carry a few small bottles of hand sanitizer, and use it religiously.

that's a good thought, but I figured since they don't allow liquids on the planes anymore I probably couldn't do that. Unless they lifted that rule. I guess I'd better check with the airline to see about being able to wear the mask too. I thought that might be a security issue as well.
Maybe I could get one of those retro, jollywhopper-big glass space helmets and wear that.

[Apatriot]

that's a good thought, but I figured since they don't allow liquids on the planes anymore I probably couldn't do that. Unless they lifted that rule. I guess I'd better check with the airline to see about being able to wear the mask too. I thought that might be a security issue as well.
Maybe I could get one of those retro, jollywhopper-big glass space helmets and wear that.

I bet they will let you just take the mask off whenever you show ID.

IN terms of the gel, just googled it, and one suggestion was to buy antiseptic handwipes.

[Buffalo]

Do you happen to know what kind/if it is a special type? Like, I have some of the white yard/woodworking masks with the rubber band thingy. BUt maybe they only block large blobs of projected spittle and mucus.
Maybe what I'll do is embrace the embarrassment completely and draw something very silly on the mask. Like a giant, yawning mouth or maybe "bubba teef". Any suggestions there?
Nice. Bubba teef would be funny. I'd ask your doctor, I don't want to give bad advice.

[JudasGoat]

Nice. Bubba teef would be funny. I'd ask your doctor, I don't want to give bad advice.

and there's google, which I keep forgetting. Hopefully ink wouldn't compromise the effectiveness of the mask.

and the apatriot suggestion for the disposable, antibactierial hiney wipes is a good one too.

[MrShotShot]

There is a debate as to whether the masks make much of a difference, but in the end, it couldn't hurt. I'm sure your doctor could give you a recommendation on which ones to use as I seem to recall that the low-grade ones don't do much.

As for sanitizer, you can carry up to a certain number of ounces. If you buy one of the travel-sized containers you should be OK or just buy it at an airport shop once you pass through security.

And by all means get some disenfectant wipes to wipe down your seat, arm rests, seatbelt, and especially the tray. Flu or no flu, it's a good idea to do this all of the time. Planes are nasty.

Also, I had to take a coast-to-coast flight when h1n1 blew up back in May and I read an article from a physician that said one good thing is to direct your air vent so that it is blowing down in front of you as it creates a bit of a barrier from airborne contagions.

[RickRhetoric]

Wearing a mask on a passenger plane might make the flight crew suspiciously nervous (them "terrorists," you know). If you wear one, be sure to dress like a Muslim so they won't ask you any questions or do anything about it (ethnic profiling, you know).

[JudasGoat]

hahaha, I just did a google search for masks on the plane and this thread came up as a hit...

[JudasGoat]

Wearing a mask on a passenger plane might make the flight crew suspiciously nervous (them "terrorists," you know). If you wear one, be sure to dress like a Muslim so they won't ask you any questions or do anything about it (ethnic profiling, you know).

solid response as always...:mrgreen:

[JudasGoat]

There is a debate as to whether the masks make much of a difference, but in the end, it couldn't hurt. I'm sure your doctor could give you a recommendation on which ones to use as I seem to recall that the low-grade ones don't do much.

As for sanitizer, you can carry up to a certain number of ounces. If you buy one of the travel-sized containers you should be OK or just buy it at an airport shop once you pass through security.

And by all means get some disenfectant wipes to wipe down your seat, arm rests, seatbelt, and especially the tray. Flu or no flu, it's a good idea to do this all of the time. Planes are nasty.

Also, I had to take a coast-to-coast flight when h1n1 blew up back in May and I read an article from a physician that said one good thing is to direct your air vent so that it is blowing down in front of you as it creates a bit of a barrier from airborne contagions.

I read that once the cheaper ones get damp from breathing they're not doing any good. The air vent and wipe down seem like good ideas though, thanks.

[JudasGoat]

there is a good article on this page about traveling on a plane, risk factors, tips, airflow and the effects of it and what people can do to reduce their chances of contracting something while flying.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/04/30/gendreau.swine.flu/index.html

[BillBrown]

I don't see how a mask could help.
Flu is a virus. You can fit a million of them on the head of a pin.
I don't see how air filtered by a mask could stop them.

[merickson]

I don't see how a mask could help.
Flu is a virus. You can fit a million of them on the head of a pin.
I don't see how air filtered by a mask could stop them.
Flu is a little virus that rides on big drops of moisture.