Barefoot Airport Security Checks Pose Risks

Barefoot stuff is a health hazard. We went to one of the busiest airports in the country, Dallas-Fort Worth, to find out. Even a doctor doesn't mince words. "It's disgusting," said podiatrist doctor Dana Giacalone. That's because we're not just talking about a little dirt on the floor. "We are talking about warts, plantar warts. We're talking about athlete's foot. We're talking about nail fungus," said Giacalone. "Here at DFW, they'll give you a pair of disposable foot covers. But so far, we haven't seen any takers." Flip flop wearers usually go naked, often spreading a nasty surprise no one wants to think about. "I try not to." "Oh, it's highly likely," said Giacalone.

But the solution is simple. "You won't pick up anything as long as you have something covering your feet" according to Giacalone. Mom always told you to wear clean underwear. Now there's something else you should add to the list. "I wear socks all the time." Here's one more suggestion from airport security, if you don't want to use the disposable foot covers, carry a pair of ankle socks with you.

Source: KXAS-TV (Dallas, Texas) [12/19/06]

Reprinted by permission from PM News. PM News is available free by writing to bblock@podiayrtm.com.