Dear Smile E.
I’m going on a trip and will be flying. Do you know if it’s permitted to use my aerobika on the plane? My flight time is fourteen hours, and I don’t want to go all day without doing my airway clearance. Or should I skip it?
Signed,
Leaving on a jet plane
Dear Leaving on a jet plane,
I’d skip it. While there are no rules against using a PEP device like an aerobika on a flight, you do need to consider infection control prevention in a small enclosed environment like and airplane. It is important to be considerate of other travelers. You never know who else on the plane with you might be respiratory compromised or worse yet immunocompromised. I would suggest that you do your aerobika before and after boarding in the gate lounge waiting area away from other passengers. Remember the six feet rule, when doing your airway clearance. The six feet rule as in germs are carried up to six feet when you sneeze, cough, and so on. This is why the CF Foundation recommendations of six feet apart for patient to patient interactions to prevent cross contamination of bacteria. Inside a plane it is extremely impossible to get six feet apart from anyone while doing airway clearance, which is why I suggest avoiding it, for the sake of others. I also do not suggest tucking away and doing your airway clearance in the plane lavatories either. Bathrooms are gross and filled with bacteria, so for your lungs sake don’t do it. For other bathroom users do not do it. I highly suggest you talking with your care team and following their recommendations on airway clearance while traveling and traveling by airplane. Remember my advice does not or is not intended to replace the advice of your treating physician or physicians.
Yours Truly,
Smile E. Turtle
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