Don’t let travel sickness spoil your trip

Press, 28 December 1987, Page 17

Don’t let travel sickness spoil your trip

JEAN FIELDING

suggests ways to

help children overcome motion sickness.

Travel or motion sickness is due to a disturbance in the balance of the mechanism of the inner ear during movement, which in turn stimulates the vomiting centre of the brain. This sickness is common in the pre-school child but he or she generally grows out of it. In a few cases only, travel sickness persists throughout life. When susceptible children are travelling by car, boat or plane they become pale,'and quiet, look unwell, may complain of nausea and dizziness and

may vomit. It is important to keep calm so that the vomiting pattern does not become established. Travel sickness can be made worse by parental anxiety, so refrain from asking, “Are you ail right?” or “Do you feel sick?” Regard it as an inconvenience, not an ailment. By following a few simple measures you may be able to prevent or limit attacks of nausea. Don’t mention illness, but keep the children on a fat-free diet the day before a long journey and give a light meal of

cereal, crisp toast, and fruit juice before you start. Forbid chocolate, toffees, crisps or icecream while travelling. You do not need a prescription for anti-sick-ness pills. Remember to give them at the time suggested, usually an hour before the trip begins. To prevent children becoming over-excited during preparation, keep

them occupied with small tasks and avoid becoming flustered yourself. Many doctors regard travel sick.ness as partly psychological, due to the excitement of a journey, and stress the importance of keeping the child relaxed. Always have car or train windows open and avoid smoking as the fumes may trigger off an attack of nausea. .

Fasten the children’s car seat belts or harness to prevent them jumping around, but they need room to move their limbs, so pack luggage in the car boot or on a rack. Never plan too long a journey in one day and avoid driving too quickly as speed can cause motion sickness. Stop for five minutes every hour or two to enable the children to stretch their legs and breathe fresh air. Encourage the children to look forwards in the car, as staring at moving objects can cause dizzi-

ness. Don’t keep saying, "Look at that castle ... cow ... river ...” for the child’s brain is already over-stimulated by rapidly changing scenery. Provide fruitdrops or glucose sweets and plenty of fruit drinks. Carry a flask of hot tea in case the children feel shivery. If they tell you, “I feel cold, mum,” stop the car if possible and lift them into the fresh air. If you cover them with a coat and offer a hot drink, vomiting often can be averted; . .

Don’t allow children to read while travelling by car, but provide an assortment of fiddly toys in a polythene cake box to keep them amused. For emergency action, as vomiting may be unavoidable on a motorway, carry a couple of towels, face flannel, soap, disinfectant and a bottle of water in a plastic bowl hidden under a seat. A packet of sodium bicarbonate is handy to sprinkle on stained upholstery as it removes any smell. ’ — Copyright Duo