What do you all do to avoid getting sick?

zmiller4 · January 17th, 2007, 20:38

I just called in sick for the first time. I tried to be heroic once last month and flew with a cold and ended up coughing the whole time and getting the captain sick as well, so I bailed this time around. It feels like I'm getting sick way more often than I ever have before, and while I know there's common sense things I can do, I'd be interested in specific stuff you airline guys do to avoid getting sick.

Kristie · January 17th, 2007, 21:18

purell EVERYTHING....the yoke, the throttles, the door handle everytime you get into a different cockpit....

take a multivitamin everyday and try Airborne (the powder type that you can put in a bottle of water works really good).

yea.. don't fly with a cold, that's how you end up spreading it to other pilots and you can really hurt yourself (esp your eardrums)...

Hope you feel better soon!!

MSUDAWG · January 17th, 2007, 22:19

Thats what I was going to say too....That Airborne stuff is a miracle...Just dissolve it in a glass of water and down it.....It will chase off any thought of a cold developing

MQAAord · January 17th, 2007, 22:41

You will get sick as a pilot. Often. You're exposed to the masses on a daily basis, and subject to germs by the metric butt-load.

The good news: After about 2 years, you will build up an amazing immunity. The constant colds will stop, and you will get sick FAR less often.

The bad news: For the first 2 years, you will be sick. A lot.

kellwolf · January 17th, 2007, 23:33

Zicam is the greatest thing on earth. I discovered that last week.....

Captain_Bob · January 17th, 2007, 23:57

Yep... I use the alcohol wipes on every surface I expect to be touching when I first enter the flight deck. Starting with my hands, then on to the throttles, flap lever, gear handle, yoke, etc... takes all of 30 seconds and is a decent prevention measure.

I always drink OJ on the flights... that and water. In fact... that's all I drink on my flights.

I also follow up with a multi-vitamin or lately I've been using the AirBorne and am happy with it. I felt real sluggish one morning... glands were starting to swell... So I took 3 airborne tablets over the course of the day along with my usual OJ and water... took three tylenol before I went to bed that night and woke up feeling 100%!

Don't know if it was the airborne, the OJ and water, the tylenol, or the rest I got... but it worked... so I'll be using that same "cocktail" solution the next time I'm feeling something coming on.

What Amber said is correct to... You will get more sick at first... but then you will build up an awesome immunity. Although... I have two young children... so... I'm battleing the germs on more than one front these days!

Bob

Kristie · January 18th, 2007, 00:00

i always thought you weren't supposed to drink more than 2 airborne's in a *day*...i drank two straight after each other once and it seriously made me sick to my stomach.

i bet it was the cocktail combination!! i find that if i'm starting to feel icky during the day, a tylenol PM with some good sleep usually does the trick!

launchpad · January 18th, 2007, 01:01

to ward off a cold, I do the multivitamin/oj/lots of water combo.......a little exercise on the road helps too.

if i'm feeling a little under, I up the water intake to obscene levels, pop at least one airborne a day, and try to up my intake of vitamin c, b and echinacea.....works pretty good..........

Captain_Bob · January 18th, 2007, 01:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kristie

i always thought you weren't supposed to drink more than 2 airborne's in a *day*...

I'm looking at the bottle right now and it says "Repeat every three hours as necessary..."

Bob

frog_flyer · January 18th, 2007, 03:31

I try to lay off the hookers when I feel like I'm coming down with something.

DE727UPS · January 18th, 2007, 03:44

People that wipe down the cockpit as part of their preflight setup make me laugh. I'd rather get a cold than look that anal. More power to yeah, though, if that's yer thing...

I like to wait until my F/O's done with the alcohol wipes, then, sneeze into my hand and reach over and make sure the flap lever is still there. Great fun...

And I do use the in room coffee machines and I don't worry about the stains on the bedspreads.

Captain_Bob · January 18th, 2007, 04:00

Don't forget the bedbugs Don... I bet you love them too!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedbugs

Kingairer · January 18th, 2007, 08:54

I give it the ole college try then i dont worry about it. If i get sick, oh well, i call in and I stay home. See how easy it is not to worry!

EDUC8-or · January 18th, 2007, 11:24

I wear a surgeon's mask when I'm on the road. People look at me kind of funny when I'm in the terminal.

Hootie · January 18th, 2007, 23:37

Dude Ive been wondering and going through the same thing. This airline thing is taking some getting used to.

Ralgha · January 19th, 2007, 05:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by kellwolf

Zicam is the greatest thing on earth. I discovered that last week.....

It's been known to permanently destroy some people's sense of smell. To me that risk far outweighs the benefit.

averyrm · January 19th, 2007, 05:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ralgha

It's been known to permanently destroy some people's sense of smell. To me that risk far outweighs the benefit.

So has Chuck Norris, people like him.

wheelsup · January 19th, 2007, 10:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by DE727UPS

I like to wait until my F/O's done with the alcohol wipes, then, sneeze into my hand and reach over and make sure the flap lever is still there. Great fun...

People picked on you when you were a kid, didn't they?

kellwolf · January 19th, 2007, 10:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ralgha

It's been known to permanently destroy some people's sense of smell. To me that risk far outweighs the benefit.

Don't use the cotton swab Q-tip thingies. It comes in pill form, too. Didn't think it'd been on the market long enough to determine that yet....

mrivc211 · January 19th, 2007, 18:34

I also wipe down the cockpit with wipes. But I still get sick. I've never been sick so many times in my life. In 2006, I was sick a total of 15 days. In 2003, I was sick 0 days.

blee256 · January 20th, 2007, 01:45

I only seem to get sick during holidays and certain events such as bdays and the Super Bowl.

but in all seriousness, cant you get in trouble with the Feds if u work, while you are sick?

Doug Taylor · January 20th, 2007, 01:46

Apparently so.

P&H · May 30th, 2007, 09:32

I megadose on Vitamin C chewables at the first sign of a cold. Had the first signs of a cold a couple of weeks ago, the sneezing all day, sore throat, was definitely going to be sick.

I immediately took about 5 grams of Vitamin C, and the next morning I felt normal. I continued to take the high dose of 3-5 grams the rest of the week, and weened off again.

Usually, I haven't been let down by it. I'm a believer in Vitamin C.

Zicam is also good, but be careful. People have lost their sense of smell using the spray version. Try the chewables.

BTW, if you want a good tasting Vit.C tab, try anything with Acerola. There is one by CVS pharmacy brand with Acerola, 500mg. Tastes better than candy.

Ian J · May 30th, 2007, 10:13

I think a positive attitude helps one avoid getting sick.

And Kris is pretty good at "thinking" herself out of a cold when one is coming on. Seems to work.

Cruise · May 30th, 2007, 10:33

I drink plenty of water and take a multivitamin. Also, I've been rinsing my nose out w/ saline solution for contacts. Seems to work really well, since I haven't been sick in ages!

January 17th, 2007, 20:38	#1
zmiller4 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 1,301	What do you all do to avoid getting sick? I just called in sick for the first time. I tried to be heroic once last month and flew with a cold and ended up coughing the whole time and getting the captain sick as well, so I bailed this time around. It feels like I'm getting sick way more often than I ever have before, and while I know there's common sense things I can do, I'd be interested in specific stuff you airline guys do to avoid getting sick.

January 17th, 2007, 21:18	#2
Kristie Big Chief's Woman Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Scottsdale, Arizona Posts: 18,779 Blog Entries: 3	Re: What do you all do to avoid getting sick? purell EVERYTHING....the yoke, the throttles, the door handle everytime you get into a different cockpit.... take a multivitamin everyday and try Airborne (the powder type that you can put in a bottle of water works really good). yea.. don't fly with a cold, that's how you end up spreading it to other pilots and you can really hurt yourself (esp your eardrums)... Hope you feel better soon!! __________________ Wife of a Delta B767 ER F/O jetgirls.net

January 17th, 2007, 22:19	#3
MSUDAWG Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Memphis Posts: 586	Re: What do you all do to avoid getting sick? Thats what I was going to say too....That Airborne stuff is a miracle...Just dissolve it in a glass of water and down it.....It will chase off any thought of a cold developing

January 17th, 2007, 22:41	#4
MQAAord Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: The Looney Bin Posts: 9,412	Re: What do you all do to avoid getting sick? You will get sick as a pilot. Often. You're exposed to the masses on a daily basis, and subject to germs by the metric butt-load. The good news: After about 2 years, you will build up an amazing immunity. The constant colds will stop, and you will get sick FAR less often. The bad news: For the first 2 years, you will be sick. A lot. __________________ PPL SEL 100-ish hours TT Former American Airlines F/A (12 months) Former Simmons/Eagle F/A (6 years) Former Eagle ground school instructor (1 year) Former Eagle IOE instructor (3 years)

January 17th, 2007, 23:33	#5
kellwolf Old Skool Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 13,879	Re: What do you all do to avoid getting sick? Zicam is the greatest thing on earth. I discovered that last week..... __________________ "I'm The Doctor, by the way. Run for your life!"

January 17th, 2007, 23:57	#6
Captain_Bob Old Skool Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: DFW, based in ONT, wishing I was in Maine Posts: 3,902	Re: What do you all do to avoid getting sick? Yep... I use the alcohol wipes on every surface I expect to be touching when I first enter the flight deck. Starting with my hands, then on to the throttles, flap lever, gear handle, yoke, etc... takes all of 30 seconds and is a decent prevention measure. I always drink OJ on the flights... that and water. In fact... that's all I drink on my flights. I also follow up with a multi-vitamin or lately I've been using the AirBorne and am happy with it. I felt real sluggish one morning... glands were starting to swell... So I took 3 airborne tablets over the course of the day along with my usual OJ and water... took three tylenol before I went to bed that night and woke up feeling 100%! Don't know if it was the airborne, the OJ and water, the tylenol, or the rest I got... but it worked... so I'll be using that same "cocktail" solution the next time I'm feeling something coming on. What Amber said is correct to... You will get more sick at first... but then you will build up an awesome immunity. Although... I have two young children... so... I'm battleing the germs on more than one front these days! Bob __________________ My head is in the clouds and my heart is still in Maine... but my devotion and love belong to my wife and children. Pics!

January 18th, 2007, 00:00	#7
Kristie Big Chief's Woman Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Scottsdale, Arizona Posts: 18,779 Blog Entries: 3	Re: What do you all do to avoid getting sick? i always thought you weren't supposed to drink more than 2 airborne's in a day...i drank two straight after each other once and it seriously made me sick to my stomach. i bet it was the cocktail combination!! i find that if i'm starting to feel icky during the day, a tylenol PM with some good sleep usually does the trick! __________________ Wife of a Delta B767 ER F/O jetgirls.net

January 18th, 2007, 01:01	#8
launchpad Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 597	Re: What do you all do to avoid getting sick? to ward off a cold, I do the multivitamin/oj/lots of water combo.......a little exercise on the road helps too. if i'm feeling a little under, I up the water intake to obscene levels, pop at least one airborne a day, and try to up my intake of vitamin c, b and echinacea.....works pretty good..........

January 18th, 2007, 03:31	#10
frog_flyer Old Skool Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: FTW Posts: 4,060 Blog Entries: 1	Re: What do you all do to avoid getting sick? I try to lay off the hookers when I feel like I'm coming down with something. __________________ "There needs to be more drinking here on JC. We need more ******* partying!" -Doug Taylor 210TT 20 ME

January 18th, 2007, 03:44	#11
DE727UPS Old Skool Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 6,550	Re: What do you all do to avoid getting sick? People that wipe down the cockpit as part of their preflight setup make me laugh. I'd rather get a cold than look that anal. More power to yeah, though, if that's yer thing... I like to wait until my F/O's done with the alcohol wipes, then, sneeze into my hand and reach over and make sure the flap lever is still there. Great fun... And I do use the in room coffee machines and I don't worry about the stains on the bedspreads.

January 18th, 2007, 04:00	#12
Captain_Bob Old Skool Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: DFW, based in ONT, wishing I was in Maine Posts: 3,902	Re: What do you all do to avoid getting sick? Don't forget the bedbugs Don... I bet you love them too! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedbugs __________________ My head is in the clouds and my heart is still in Maine... but my devotion and love belong to my wife and children. Pics!

January 18th, 2007, 08:54	#13
Kingairer Old Skool Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Nomadic...World Wide Boobie Bungalow Bouncer Posts: 3,190	Re: What do you all do to avoid getting sick? I give it the ole college try then i dont worry about it. If i get sick, oh well, i call in and I stay home. See how easy it is not to worry! __________________ "I do not proofread"

January 18th, 2007, 11:24	#14
EDUC8-or Old Skool Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: NC Posts: 2,278	Re: What do you all do to avoid getting sick? I wear a surgeon's mask when I'm on the road. People look at me kind of funny when I'm in the terminal. __________________ Listen To My Acoustic Demo@www.myspace.com/thesenachosaregood Watch Us Play Live@www.youtube.com/TheseNachosLive

January 18th, 2007, 23:37	#15
Hootie Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Zona Posts: 1,182	Re: What do you all do to avoid getting sick? Dude Ive been wondering and going through the same thing. This airline thing is taking some getting used to. __________________ Whatever happened to catching a good old fashioned passionate ass whooping?

January 19th, 2007, 18:34	#20
mrivc211 Old Skool Join Date: Sep 2000 Posts: 2,052	Re: What do you all do to avoid getting sick? I also wipe down the cockpit with wipes. But I still get sick. I've never been sick so many times in my life. In 2006, I was sick a total of 15 days. In 2003, I was sick 0 days.

January 20th, 2007, 01:45	#21
blee256 Old Skool Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: lower canada Posts: 1,649	Re: What do you all do to avoid getting sick? I only seem to get sick during holidays and certain events such as bdays and the Super Bowl. but in all seriousness, cant you get in trouble with the Feds if u work, while you are sick? __________________ According to a report by Goldman Sachs economists, "the most important contributor to higher profit margins over the past five years has been a decline in labor's share of national income."

January 20th, 2007, 01:46	#22
Doug Taylor Agent Smith Join Date: Dec 1969 Location: KSDL Posts: 41,236 Blog Entries: 1	Re: What do you all do to avoid getting sick? Apparently so.

May 30th, 2007, 09:32	#23
P&H Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 277	Re: What do you all do to avoid getting sick? I megadose on Vitamin C chewables at the first sign of a cold. Had the first signs of a cold a couple of weeks ago, the sneezing all day, sore throat, was definitely going to be sick. I immediately took about 5 grams of Vitamin C, and the next morning I felt normal. I continued to take the high dose of 3-5 grams the rest of the week, and weened off again. Usually, I haven't been let down by it. I'm a believer in Vitamin C. Zicam is also good, but be careful. People have lost their sense of smell using the spray version. Try the chewables. BTW, if you want a good tasting Vit.C tab, try anything with Acerola. There is one by CVS pharmacy brand with Acerola, 500mg. Tastes better than candy.

May 30th, 2007, 10:13	#24
Ian J Old Skool Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Nashville Posts: 6,000 Blog Entries: 7	Re: What do you all do to avoid getting sick? I think a positive attitude helps one avoid getting sick. And Kris is pretty good at "thinking" herself out of a cold when one is coming on. Seems to work. __________________

May 30th, 2007, 10:33	#25
Cruise Old Skool Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: SYR, ABE Posts: 2,367	Re: What do you all do to avoid getting sick? I drink plenty of water and take a multivitamin. Also, I've been rinsing my nose out w/ saline solution for contacts. Seems to work really well, since I haven't been sick in ages!

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode