George Collins, the editor of Santa Ana Insight, travels extensively while he goes about making the travel films that keep him in business. He noticed the other day that Orange County’s John Wayne Airport does not supply disposable booties to travelers who are required to take off their footwear while going through security. Collins found this to be gross and a possible exposure to microbial pathogens.
So Collins protested to the Orange County Health Department, and later to federal transportation officials at the TSA and of course he got the runaround.
But he has a point. You can catch athlete’s foot, a fungal infection, by walking around barefoot in public places. Most of us wear socks with our shoes, but many ladies don’t, and guys wearing sandals or flip-flops also don’t wear socks. Some guys even wear tennis shoes or loafers without socks. All of them can be exposed to athlete’s foot by walking barefoot at the airport.
You can also develop a nasty condition called verrucae, by walking barefoot in public places. “Verrucae are caused by the human papiloma virus (HPV). This virus is very contagious, but can only be caught by direct contact. “
Another infection you can develop by walking barefoot in public places is Onychomycosis. It is a fungal infection of the toenail.
I am astounded that the TSA is not making disposable foot booties available at John Wayne Airport. You can read more about their shoe screening policy at this link. You can email the TSA about this or call them at 866-289-9673. Or you can register a complaint online.
You can also email your comments and suggestions to officials at John Wayne Airport. There is also an Orange County Airport Commission. You can email them or call them at (949) 252-5237. According to their website, “The Orange County Airport Commission makes recommendations to the Orange County Board of Supervisors for development, maintenance and operation of John Wayne Airport and other airports which may be operated by the County of Orange. It advises the Board of Supervisors and makes recommendations on any matter pertaining to airports or air transportation. It also conducts investigations as it may deem necessary in the exercise of the powers enumerated above.”
Art.
As we fly from Orlando to LAX tonight thank you for reminding me not to wear any socks with holes in them.
As the airline industry struggles to stay afloat think about expanding this health concept by having them change out all of the pillows and blankets that they provide to avoid our getting germs from other passengers.
While I have had to wear booties in visiting Mosque’s or entering “clean rooms” doing military sub-contracts, let’s not give Homeland Security more hooks into our lives with “booties.”
While we join all other passengers in removing our shoes just before placing our hand luggage on the security belt, you typically walk barefoot less than 15 feet.
Larry,
Yes, the same 15 feet that thousands of others have traveled that same day.
The last thing we need is people fumbling about trying to put on and take off booties as they are getting screened through security. It will only make the wait in line even longer. Wear some socks when you go to the airport.
A more serious threat to feet are the showers in your local high school. How many kids use “shower shoes” after P.E. or soccer practice? What about the local gym where you work out? Makes me itchy just thinking about it!
This has got to be one of the stupidest ideas I’ve ever seen.
I fly out of JWA or LAX and back and I have never been given booties.
If the choice is between athelte’s foot or getting my feet blown off by some shoe-bomb terrorist, or maybe getting blown clear out of the sky, I know what my choice is.
We are the only country I’ve ever travelled to that requires us to take off our shoes.
Other countries just have detection machines that go all the way to the ground! The shoes are scanned just as is the rest of our person. Guess that makes too much sense!
The best comment I ever heard on this, “None of this would be necessary if only they counted the votes in 2000.”
The Republicans blew it all, our internal security, international reputation, all of it due to the RED menace- REICHpublicans.
Gary.
On our second flight, returning to LAX last night, I noticed several passengers that took off their shoes for comfort. They later proceeded to one of the vacant toilets walking back and forth along the carpeting which has probably never been replaced. I guess the airlines should give every passenger the same slippers to wear as they give to the First Class elite. We surely don’t want them to spread any contamination.
When you get to your destination simply change your socks or is that too much to ask?
PS: Gary.
And for those who travel barefoot, or only wear sandals without socks, they typically are not wimps. If you are concened about getting someone else’s germs and know that your footwear must be removed at the airport, why don’t you wear shoes or sneakers? A very lame arguement.