Flight attendant reveals her uniform is making her sick
An American Airlines flight attendant has said that although people think her uniform is attractive, it’s actually making her sick.
Crew member for the airline, Heather Poole, has blogged about the impact the company-issued uniform policy has had on her health.
Heather has hypothyroidism, an underactive thyroid and in a recent blog she has mentioned that the uniform impacts her condition. She explained that she has experienced a reaction from “chemicals” in the uniform.
“I get sick every time I go to work,” she wrote. “Every time I go to work I feel terrible."
Heather claimed that other employees have also reported health issues since American Airlines introduced their new uniforms in September.
Heather also said that flight attendants from other airlines have reported thyroid issues from uniforms made by the same manufacturer.
“Many of my co-workers … don’t believe it’s the uniform,” she wrote. “It’s kind of crazy to think your clothes could be poisoning you.”
Pilots from American Airlines have also complained that they have experienced health issues due to the chemicals in their uniform.
The Association of Professional Flight Attendants reveals that more than 3000 members have filed complaints regarding their new uniforms.
In a recent blog post, Heather explained that she has encountered internet trolls who don’t believe that her uniform has led to health complications.
"Over the last nine months, I was called ‘psycho’ and ‘crazy’,” she wrote. “Because the sexy stereotype won’t die, nobody cares when we have something serious to discuss.”
When Heather stopped wearing the uniform, her issues did not subside. She said that being around her co-workers in uniform also impacts her health, even resulting in an emergency trip to the hospital.
“Let the record state that I can’t prove that any of my health problems are in fact caused by my wearing the uniform,” she wrote.
“I dread going to work. I love my job, but my job is making me sick.”