00:00Well, here's quite a list for you.
00:02Yellow fever, malaria, Zika – these are just a few of the nasties you might pick up
00:07if you fly in shorts.
00:09Sure, the cabin might look clean, but check it out under a microscope and you'll see
00:14a different story.
00:16Take seatback trigs – they're gross, with over 2,100 colony-forming units per square
00:22inch.
00:23Who knows how clean the actual seats are?
00:26Planes aren't exactly shouting about how often they deep clean – probably not more
00:31than every 1-3 months.
00:33If you think planes get a good scrub down before every flight, think again.
00:38Every minute of delay costs an airline about $100, so there's not much time for a thorough
00:43cleaning.
00:44The crew does what they can, but wearing shorts is still a bad idea.
00:48You'll expose your skin to all that grime.
00:51And let's face it – you won't jump in the shower the second you get off the plane.
00:55So do yourself a favor and wear clothes that cover your skin.
01:00Plus, sometimes it gets excessively cold on a plane, so shorts will make you ask for a
01:05blanket on a plane.
01:07Now listen closely – you don't want to do that.
01:10Those pillows and blankets are reused constantly and not always cleaned thoroughly.
01:15Let's just say short turnaround times between flights make proper washing unlikely.
01:21But even if they are, airlines use industrial detergents to wash pillows and blankets.
01:26You see what I'm driving at?
01:28Either make sure to wear proper clothing, or bring your own blanket.
01:34If there's something you should totally wear on a plane, it's slippers.
01:37Yep, the ones you snagged from the hotel the last time you traveled.
01:41They're a lifesaver when you want to ditch your uncomfortable shoes but don't want to
01:45flash your socks, no matter how cute.
01:49Slippers are easy to slide on and off, making them perfect for those mid-flight bathroom
01:54trips.
01:55At the end of the flight, you can toss the slippers away – no muss, no fuss.
02:01During takeoff and landing, the air pressure changes super quickly, which can lead to ear
02:05discomfort and muffled hearing – something called barotitis.
02:10Simple things like yawning, chewing, or swallowing can help your ears adjust to the pressure.
02:15If you're asleep, you're not doing any of that, so your ears will struggle.
02:19Plus, takeoff and landing are when most accidents happen, so it's crucial to stay alert and
02:25be ready for anything.
02:27And your ears will thank you.
02:31Not every life hack you see online is worth trying.
02:34Take this one that went viral on TikTok.
02:37Millions of viewers watched passengers pulling their knees up to their chests, feet at the
02:42edge of their seats, with a seatbelt fastened around their feet.
02:46But you shouldn't do that.
02:48First off, it's against the rules.
02:50Official guidelines say seatbelts should be worn properly across your lap.
02:54Next, in this position, a sudden impact could force your face or chin into your knees.
03:00Plus, a properly worn seatbelt helps you keep restrained during sudden altitude drops, preventing
03:06you from being thrust upwards.
03:08Finally, if you injure yourself or others by sitting this way, you could be held liable
03:13for any costs incurred, like if the plane has to make an emergency diversion.
03:18Well, you know the drill.
03:21Tray tables up, seat backs upright.
03:24But why is this so important?
03:25It's not just an airline preference, it's the law, according to the US Code of Federal
03:31Regulations.
03:32The thing is, upright seats provide more structural support during impact.
03:37A reclined seat can act like a catapult during a sudden stop, projecting you forward or slam
03:43you backward in case of sudden acceleration.
03:46Take-off, approach, and landing are the riskiest phases.
03:50About 67% of fatal accidents happen during these times.
03:54Cruising is the safest phase, so feel free to recline once you're at altitude.
03:59Now, in case of an emergency on a plane, you'll only have around 90 seconds to evacuate, dimming
04:07the cabin lights during take-off and landing when it's dark outside is all about safety.
04:13This helps your eyes adjust to the darkness, making it easier to evacuate if needed.
04:18It can take up to 30 minutes for our eyes to fully adapt to low light, and having sharp
04:23vision can be a lifesaver in an emergency.
04:26Plus, with your eyes adjusted, you'll see the floor lights guiding you to the exits
04:30more clearly.
04:32On the flip side, if it's bright outside, the cabin lights stay on so that you're not
04:37blinded upon exit.
04:38These small details make a big difference in creating the best conditions for a quick
04:43evacuation.
04:44You'll also notice flight attendants asking passengers to close tray tables, stow bags,
04:51and put seats upright.
04:53This clears the pathways to the exits, and they might ask you to open your window shade
04:58so they can spot any external hazards, like fire or debris, that could hinder an emergency
05:03evacuation.
05:04Well, it's time to have lunch!
05:08Well, sadly on a plane, it won't be as yummy as back on Earth.
05:12But why does food taste a bit off when you're flying?
05:15Let's first figure out how we perceive the taste of food.
05:19It's not only about your mouth, it's also about your nose.
05:23The dry air and pressure changes in the cabin can reduce your tastebud sensitivity by about
05:2830%, making food taste different in the ear than it does on the ground.
05:34As for your nose, well, let's just say it has a hard time distinguishing flavors when
05:39the air humidity is only 12%.
05:42In total, there are 5 basic tastes – saltiness, sweetness, bitterness, sourness, and that
05:48savory flavor often called umami, which is Japanese for delicious taste.
05:54The two tastes that get especially weak when flying are saltiness and sweetness, which
06:00is why airlines often over-season their meals.
06:03To make airplane food, if not yummy, but at least edible, cooks must add up to 20% more
06:10salt.
06:11By the way, it's not just about the altitude or pressure – that loud background noise
06:15can also make food taste less salty and sweet.
06:19While traveling, relax and breathe, my friend.
06:22Despite what you might think, aircraft air quality is actually better than in many other
06:27communal spaces.
06:28About 40% of the air is filtered through a HEPA system, and the rest comes from outside.
06:34This means the air is completely changed every 3 minutes, catching 99.97% of airborne particles.
06:42Sounds very safe, right?
06:43Well, almost.
06:45Look at those overhead air vents.
06:48As for colony-forming units, there are 285 – just 285.
06:54For comparison, an average keyboard has over 3.5 million CFUs per square inch.
07:00So those nozzles are relatively clean.
07:03Still, you never know when they were last wiped down, so keep hand sanitizer nearby
07:08just in case.
07:10In any event, the overhead air vent can help keep germs away, so it's good to have some
07:15fresh air blowing in the stuffy cabin.
07:19While your plane is taking off and landing, it's a must to stay seated.
07:23But actually, staying glued to your seat for the duration of the entire flight is more
07:27of a bad idea.
07:29You see, we all need our blood to circulate nicely around the body.
07:33Sure thing you aren't supposed to walk to and fro, but standing up for some time is
07:37a good idea, especially if you have an aisle seat and there's no one to block your way.
07:43If you're blocked in the middle or window seat, just make sure to stretch your legs.
07:49We've chatted about this before, to protect your ears, it's best not to sleep at certain
07:53times on a plane.
07:55But here's another tip to keep your eyes happy too.
07:59Whenever you're flying, go for glasses instead of contact lenses.
08:03The dry air on airplanes can be super harsh on your eyes.
08:07If it's your first time flying, you might not realize how bad it can feel, and taking
08:11out your contact lenses mid-flight can be a real problem.
08:16That's it for today!
08:17So hey, if you pacified your curiosity, then give the video a like and share it with your
08:21friends!
08:22Or if you want more, just click on these videos and stay on the Bright Side!
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