Would you wear a mask on a plane!

ncmc

Just wondering what people's opinions are on wearing masks on a plane (as precaution against swine flu). My hubby is on drugs due to an existing illness that supress his immune system so I am worried about him being very susceptable to swine flu. We are due to fly to the US in August and want him to wear a mask on the flight. He's refusing saying he would look rediculous. My attitude is that I wouldn't give a sh*t what I look like if it helped prevent me getting sick. Just wondering what other peoples thoughts are, would you wear a mask? Or just take your chances?

ncmc

ncmc wrote: »

Just wondering what people's opinions are on wearing masks on a plane (as precaution against swine flu). My hubby is on drugs due to an existing illness that supress his immune system so I am worried about him being very susceptable to swine flu. We are due to fly to the US in August and want him to wear a mask on the flight. He's refusing saying he would look rediculous. My attitude is that I wouldn't give a sh*t what I look like if it helped prevent me getting sick. Just wondering what other peoples thoughts are, would you wear a mask? Or just take your chances?

Do those masks actually keep out the virus??

I'd have my doubts

The Big Red Button

You could wear a mask but have a scarf wrapped up around it so it wouldn't look so obvious?

To be honest, you might get a couple of funny looks, but when are you ever going to see these people again?! I think he should just wear one - but make sure you wear one to, in case you'd catch it and give it to him!

Duffman

Masks will reduce the likelihood of you spreading infection to others. The general consensus is that they do nothing to protect you from infection.

ncmc

Duffman wrote: »

Masks will reduce the likelihood of you spreading infection to others. The general consensus is that they do nothing to protect you from infection.

But surely if they stop the infection getting out, they'll stop it from getting in too?

consultech

ncmc wrote: »

My attitude is that I wouldn't give a sh*t what I look like if it helped prevent me getting sick.

Well this is the perfect opportunity to demonstrate that mantra. As has been said above; you would likely need to wear one too to prevent from being a carrier to him when you get off the plane.

FWIW I'm on Azathioprine, am flying from Heathrow -> Abu Dhabi in a week, and haven't given it a second thought. Yeah, I'm on Immuno-supressants, but I don't catch every cold (very rarely in fact) going. TBH I barely notice any difference in my immune system.

Does he catch lots of colds etc??

Jev/N

No offence but I've got to laugh! Even if you attempted wearing a mask on, you're on a 7 hour flight and you do realise he would have to eat and drink at some point?? How would he wear it for the entirety of the flight?

Also, I've worn them before when using paints and spirits etc. and they get extremely uncomfortable after a time due to condensation inside

Medical professionals have recommended wearing masks for treating someone with the virus or if living with someone who has it, but not for general use.

jhegarty

Has he asked a doctor ?

I don't know how immunosuppressed he his , but a 7 hour flight may not be the best idea with or without the worry of H5N1.

lynchie

chatterpillar wrote: »

You could wear a mask but have a scarf wrapped up around it so it wouldn't look so obvious?

To be honest, you might get a couple of funny looks, but when are you ever going to see these people again?! I think he should just wear one - but make sure you wear one to, in case you'd catch it and give it to him!

Was on a flight last week to San Diego and there were several people all wearing those masks on board the flight. There was one family with several children all wearing them and it did look quite funny.

MagicMarker

Why wear a mask on a plane? Are you also going to make him wear a mask walking the streets of America?

Why not make him wear a mask now?

Personally, I think it's a stupid idea.

Ponster

MagicMarker wrote: »

Why wear a mask on a plane? Are you also going to make him wear a mask walking the streets of America?

Why not make him wear a mask now?

Because of the proximity to lots of other people where the air is recycled. It's common to see face masks on the metro in Paris but as already said, it's normally people who already have a cold/flu rather than those hoping to prevent becoming infected.

Svalbard

Don't take this as gospel but......

Influenza viruses are spread mainly in 3 ways

1. Droplets from an infected person entering another persons mouth/nose/mucous membranes (basically membranes of mouth, nose and eyes) directly (sneezing, coughing close to a person) - the most common type of spread, you need to be within a few meters of infected person.

2. Infected surfaces - infected person sneezes on a desk, on hand, touches door handle etc. Virus remains alive for different lengths of time depending on surface (24 to 48 hours on hard porous surfaces, 5 mins on hands). Second most common route of spread.

3. Aerosol. Different to large droplets, the virus particles are basically free floating in the air. This is by far the least common way of spread and only really happens in certain settings (patient on a respiratory nebuliser for instance).

A common paper surgical mask would in theory protect you from droplet spread, assuming it doesn't get into your eyes. It would do nothing for the surface contact route.

Also, planes have a closed circulation which may cause the virus to be aerosolised and spread through the cabin. If that is the case, the common surgical mask is useless and you would need a special respirator mask.

If I or a loved one was immunocompromised I would avoid unnecessary air travel with Swine flu about.

Svalbard

Svalbard wrote: »

If I or a loved one was immunocompromised I would avoid unnecessary air travel with Swine flu about.

+1

Mr Benevolent

Ironically if your husband has immune system problems he is a lot less likely to die from H1N1. Besides, people are going nuts about a disease that has a 0.5% death rate - the same as normal flu. I'm said it before and I'll say it again - never believe anything you read or hear or see in the media. Ever. Because none of it is true.

Svalbard

Confab wrote: »

Ironically if your husband has immune system problems he is a lot less likely to die from H1N1.

I assume your talking about the 'cytokine storm' which was used to explain why so many people with healthy immune systems (i.e. not the very young or very old) died during the 3 swine flu epidemics of the 20th century.

However, bearing in mind most deaths in most influenza pandemics occur amongst vulnerable groups I wouldn't be taking any chances. Secondary bacterial pneumonia is still the most common way to go.

ncmc

Thank you for all the replies, it has certainly given me some food for thought.

No offence but I've got to laugh! Even if you attempted wearing a mask on, you're on a 7 hour flight and you do realise he would have to eat and drink at some point?? How would he wear it for the entirety of the flight?

I wasn't suggesting that he wear it the whole time, obviously he has to eat and drink. I guess my thinking was that if he wears it 7/8 of the time then surely that would reduce the amount of bacteria he would be breathing in.

Why wear a mask on a plane? Are you also going to make him wear a mask walking the streets of America?

Why not make him wear a mask now?

Personally, I think it's a stupid idea.

A plane is a completely different prospect than open air streets. It is a totally self contained unit with recycled air where you sit in very close proximity to other people for 8 hours. I am aware that the risk is there in all places, but I would imagine that the risk is greater in a plane.

If I or a loved one was immunocompromised I would avoid unnecessary air travel with Swine flu about.

While I do see where you are coming from with this, my attitude is that you can't live your life in a bubble. I did consider cancelling the holiday, but where would it end? We are going to U2 next week, should we cancel that? What about eating out or going to the cinema or even going to work? The way things are going, he will be as likely to catch it in Ireland as the US in a couple of months. He is pretty healthy for the most part and doesn't really catch that many colds (he did at first when he started on these drugs). I just want to protect him as much as possible, while still getting on with our lives.

Interesting that the masks seem to stop the germs getting out rather than getting in, I would have presumed they worked both ways. Think I might leave the mask idea and just concentrate on getting a good antibacterial hand wash instead.

BA and Virgin are stopping people who look like they have the virus getting on their planes, so that is some comfort as we are flying BA.

Jumpy

Does he wear a mask on normal flights? Swine flu is the same as your average flu, it is just that there is no tolerance to it yet.
If swine flu would kill him then so would normal flu.