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What's to know about motion sickness?

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Motion sickness is a disturbance of the inner ear. It is the result of repeated motion from a vehicle or other movements that disturb the inner ear.

Some people experience nausea and even vomiting when riding in an airplane, automobile, or amusement park ride. One study, published in PloS one in 2013, suggested that 3-D movies can also cause nausea.

This condition is generally called motion sickness. When riding on a boat or ship, it is commonly referred to as sea sickness – but it is the same disorder.

Fast facts on motion sickness:

  • There is no difference between motion sickness and sea sickness.
  • Individuals and animals without a functional vestibular (balance) system are immune to motion sickness.
  • Without the motion-sensing organs of the inner ear, motion sickness does not occur, suggesting that the inner ear is important in motion sickness.
  • The symptoms of motion sickness include nausea, vomiting, and dizziness.

close up of a mans ear

Motion is sensed by the brain through different pathways of the nervous system including the inner ear, the eyes, and the tissues of the body surface.

When the body is moved intentionally, for example when walking, the input from all of the pathways are coordinated by our brain.

The symptoms of motion sickness appear when the central nervous system receives conflicting messages from the sensory systems: the inner ear, eyes, skin pressure receptors, and the muscle and joint sensory receptors.

As an example, if someone is sat on a boat or in a car (not looking out of a window), their inner ears sense movement up and down, left and right, but their eyes see a static view, as if they are not moving at all. It is hypothesized that the conflict among the inputs is responsible for motion sickness.

Serious symptoms include:

  • short breath

Other common signs are:

  • a general feeling of discomfort
  • not feeling well (malaise)

Mild symptoms are categorized as:

  • mild unease

Most cases of motion sickness are mild and self-treatable.

Very severe cases, and those that become progressively worse, deserve the attention and care of a physician with special skill in diseases of the ear, balance (equilibrium), and nervous system.

To help diagnose motion sickness, a doctor will ask about symptoms and find out what usually causes the problem (such as riding in a boat, flying in a plane, or driving in a car). Laboratory tests are generally not necessary to diagnose motion sickness.

The distressing symptoms of motion sickness usually stop when the motion causing it ceases. But this is not always true. There are people who suffer symptoms for even a few days after the trip is over. Most people who have had motion sickness in the past ask their doctor how to prevent it next time. The following remedies may help:

Looking at the horizon

One common suggestion is to simply look out of the window of the moving vehicle and to gaze toward the horizon in the direction of travel. This helps to re-orient the inner sense of balance by providing a visual reaffirmation of motion.

Keeping eyes closed and napping

In the night, or in a ship without windows, it is helpful to simply close one’s eyes, or if possible, take a nap. This resolves the input conflict between the eyes and the inner ear.

A simple method for relieving common and mild car sickness is chewing. Chewing gum has an uncanny effectiveness for reducing car sickness in those affected. A variety of chewing gum is available for purchase online .

Chewing gum, however, is not the only thing one may chew to relieve mild effects of car sickness, snacking on sweets, or just chewing in general seems to reduce adverse effects of the conflict between vision and balance.

Fresh, cool air can also relieve motion sickness slightly, although it is likely this is related to avoiding foul odors, which can worsen nausea.

Ginger has been found to reduce motion sickness. This is available in tablet form, or a fresh stem of ginger can be chewed to relieve symptoms. There is some debate over whether it is the chewing or the ginger that helps. Ginger products for motion sickness are available for purchase online .

Acupressure

An acupressure practitioner works with the same points used in acupuncture , but stimulates these healing sites with finger pressure, rather than inserting fine needles. Some studies suggest that acupressure may help reduce symptoms of motion sickness in the same way as acupuncture, although the evidence is not clear.

Here are some important tips for preventing motion sickness:

  • Always sit in a position so that the eyes can see the same motion that the body and inner ear feels.
  • In a car, sit in the front seat and look at the distant scenery.
  • On a boat, go up on the deck and watch the motion of the horizon.
  • In an airplane, sit by the window and look outside. Also, in a plane, choose a seat over the wings where the motion is minimized.
  • Do not read while traveling if experiencing motion sickness, and do not sit in a seat facing backward.
  • Do not watch or talk to another traveler who is having motion sickness.
  • Avoid strong odors and spicy or greasy foods immediately before and during travel.

Medical research has not yet investigated the effectiveness of popular folk remedies such as “soda crackers and 7 Up,” “cola syrup over ice,” or ginger products.

Medications

While home remedies are effective, medications are also a good way to prevent motion sickness and are best taken before travelling.

  • Scopolamine – the most commonly prescribed medication for motion sickness. It must be taken before symptoms start. It is available as a patch that is placed behind the ear 6-8 hours before travel.
  • Promethazine – should be taken 2 hours before travel. The effects last 6-8 hours. Side effects may include drowsiness and dry mouth .
  • Cyclizine – is most effective when taken at least 30 minutes before travel. It is not recommended for children younger than 6, and side effects are similar to scopolamine.
  • Dimenhydrinate – taken every 4-8 hours. Side effects are similar to scopolamine.
  • Dimenhydrinate chewing gum – a team of experts spoke at the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists Annual Meeting and Exposition in 2012 on a study that showed patients can absorb the medication through the cheek.
  • Meclizine (Bonine) – is most effective when taken 1 hour before travel. It is not recommended for children under 12, and side effects may include drowsiness and dry mouth.

Last medically reviewed on June 21, 2017

  • Public Health

How we reviewed this article:

  • Golding, J. F. (1998, November 15). Motion sickness susceptibility questionnaire revised and its relationship to other forms of sickness. Brain research bulletin, 47 (5), 507-516 http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0361923098000914
  • Golding, J. F., & Gresty, M. A. (2015). Pathophysiology and treatment of motion sickness. Current opinion in neurology, 28 (1), 83-88 http://journals.lww.com/co-neurology/Abstract/2015/02000/Pathophysiology_and_treatment_of_motion_sickness.15.aspx
  • Novel chewing gum formulation helps prevent motion sickness. (2012, October 17) https://www.aaps.org/News/Press_Room/Press_Releases/2012/Novel_Chewing_Gum_Formulation_Helps_Prevent_Motion_Sickness/
  • Solimini, A. G. (2013, February 13). Are there side effects to watching 3D movies? A prospective crossover observational study on visually induced motion sickness. PloS one, 8 (2), e56160 http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0056160

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Motion Sickness: Symptoms, Who's at Risk, and How to Prevent It

  • Who Is at Risk
  • Medications
  • Health Conditions
  • When to Get Help

Motion sickness ( kinetosis ) causes symptoms that include dizziness, nausea , and headache . It occurs when you're moving (in a car, for example) and your brain receives mixed signals from your body, inner ear, and eyes about its surroundings. For instance, if you're below deck on a boat, your inner ear may sense rolling waves but your eyes don't see them. It is also called vertigo or seasickness , and is common in both children and adults, though some risk factors make it more likely.

Motion sickness also can occur due to flight simulators, gaming, amusement park rides, and other "virtual reality" experiences. Self-driving (automated) vehicles also lead to episodes of motion sickness, as people read or work on other tasks rather than driving themselves.

This article explains the symptoms of motion sickness, their causes, and who's at risk. It presents tips on managing your symptoms and ways to prevent motion sickness before it happens.

Illustration by Maritsa Patrinos for Verywell Health

Who Is at Higher Risk for Motion Sickness?

Studies have shown that essentially everyone has the potential to get motion sickness because it's related to the vestibular system (and its ear-related role in motion, balance, and coordination).  It's common, with one study finding up to 25% of large ship passengers (even more on smaller boats) will develop motion sickness within two to three days of the start of an ocean voyage.

For some people, it starts right away, while others only feel sick after they’ve been moving for a long time. Some people are more likely to get motion sickness, including:

  • Children aged 2 to 12 years (it can occur in younger children)
  • Younger adults (compared with those over age 60)
  • People who are pregnant
  • People who get migraine headaches

Other factors that contribute to risk include:

  • Alcohol and drug use
  • Being sleep deprived
  • Poor airflow in a vehicle
  • Certain odors, including diesel fuel or cigarette smoke

A small study has shown that people who don't know when or how motion will occur may have more difficulty. Facing forward and watching the horizon may help deal with unpredictable motion and motion sickness.

Hormones and Motion Sickness

Females are more likely than males to get motion sickness, partly because of hormones.  Estrogen , the primary female sex hormone, can contribute to symptoms of nausea and dizziness. Studies have shown that the menstrual cycle, as well as estrogen drugs or supplements, can affect how someone experiences motion sickness.

Symptoms of Motion Sickness

Symptoms of motion sickness can vary significantly from person to person, and the degree to which you feel ill can be less severe or more severe than other people who suffer from vertigo.

Nausea and vomiting are common, but they are not the only symptoms of motion sickness. Other symptoms may include:

  • Cold sweats and clammy hands
  • Hyperventilation (rapid breathing)
  • Sensitivity to smells
  • Loss of appetite (clinically called anorexia )
  • Excessive salivation
  • Warm, flushed sensation

Sopite Syndrome

Some people have a subcategory of motion sickness called sopite syndrome. The main symptoms of sopite syndrome include:

  • Drowsiness and lethargy
  • Mild depression
  • Reduced ability to focus on an assigned task

Nausea and vomiting are not symptoms of sopite syndrome, which is one way it’s different from more common types of motion sickness. Sopite symptoms also may occur alone, or they may last longer than other motion sickness symptoms. The precise cause remains unclear, but it's possible another mechanism (including ear-related) is at work.

Medications Can Cause Motion Sickness

Motion sickness symptoms (or their increased severity) can be caused by certain medications. Both prescription drugs and over-the-counter (OTC) medications can cause side effects that result in motion sickness symptoms even when you’re not actually moving.

Nausea, dizziness, and feeling off balance are the vertigo-like side effects that can occur with a wide range of medications. Some of the common medications that may cause these symptoms include:

  • Antibiotics such as penicillin, Suprax (cefixime), and Cipro (ciprofloxacin)
  • Estrogen-containing medications such as birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy
  • Bisphosphonates , such as Binosto (alendronate)
  • Lanoxin ( digoxin )
  • Inbrija (levodopa)
  • Narcotic pain medications like Kadian (morphine), OxyContin ( oxycodone ), or Hysingla ER (hydrocodone)
  • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories like Advil (ibuprofen) and Aleve (naproxen)
  • Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors such as Paxil (paroxetine), Prozac (fluoxetine), and Zoloft (sertraline)
  • Statins such as Crestor (rosuvastatin) and Zocor (simvastatin)

Even if you do feel discomfort, do not skip or stop taking your medications without talking to your provider.

If you will be traveling and are worried about motion sickness occurring or being more severe with a medication, talk to your healthcare provider. They may say that you can safely take your dose in a different way (for example, at a different time) to help prevent symptoms. 

Motion Sickness Symptoms and Health Conditions

Motion sickness usually stops within eight hours of ending the activity or movement. If your symptoms do not get better when you stop moving, it could be another condition that causes the same symptoms as motion sickness and you should talk to your provider.

Conditions that can cause similar symptoms to motion sickness include:

  • Fluid in the ear
  • Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)
  • Meniere’s disease

Talk to your healthcare provider about your symptoms to ensure an accurate diagnosis.

Treatment for Motion Sickness

There are a few treatment options for motion sickness. If you're taking medication before traveling, your healthcare provider may suggest a small dose before your trip to see how well it works.

Common medications for treating motion sickness include:

  • Bonine (meclizine)
  • Dramamine (dimenhydrinate)
  • Phenergan ( promethazine )

Other options include:

  • Anticholinergic drugs , including scopolamine (like the Transderm Scop patch)
  • Benzodiazepines like Valium (diazepam)
  • Dopamine receptor antagonists like Reglan (metoclopramide)

Acupuncture and other complementary medicine options, such as using the P6 pressure point to control nausea , exist for treating motion sickness. Some experts recommend ginger. However, there is limited research support for their benefits, and motion sickness remains easier to prevent than treat.

Preventing Motion Sickness

Changing your activities or position can help with motion sickness, though reading often leads to motion sickness. Lying down can help, as does limiting your visual input (for example, trees that seem to move as you pass them).

You can also try:

  • Sitting in the front seat, if in a vehicle
  • Turning air vents toward your face
  • Keeping your head still
  • Avoiding heavy meals or alcohol use

Natural remedies may help with motion sickness symptoms and their prevention. Try deep breathing exercises, which have been shown to help with seasickness in simulated exercises.

Physical therapy to help you adapt to motion may help, as can transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation ( TENS ) using a small device that generates impulses. Cognitive behavioral therapy also may help to treat anxiety related to motion sickness.

Try Not to Think About Motion Sickness

Research has suggested that people who think they will get motion sickness are more likely to. You might be able to avoid or at least prevent motion sickness from getting worse by changing your thoughts and finding a distraction.

When to See a Healthcare Provider

Most people see a healthcare provider for motion sickness ahead of planned travel, in order to seek preventive treatment, but other situations do arise. The most common complications of motion sickness include vomiting that leads to dehydration and electrolyte imbalances , which can be treated easily. These conditions can, however, cause serious illness in some people.

Other conditions with symptoms similar to motion sickness include:

  • Low blood sugar ( hypoglycemia ), which requires immediate care in people diagnosed with diabetes
  • Stroke , a life-threatening condition that requires immediate intervention
  • Traumatic head injury and concussion, commonly caused by sports injuries or accidents

If you feel sick after you hit your head or were in an accident, go to the emergency room or call 911.

Keep in mind that motion sickness usually goes away fairly quickly once you’ve stopped moving. If it’s been more than eight hours and you’re still having symptoms, call your provider.

While nausea and vomiting are common, they are not the only symptoms of motion sickness. Some people have other symptoms like fatigue and mood changes. Medications, hormones, and certain activities can make you more likely to get motion sickness.

It's easier to prevent motion sickness than treat it, so talk to your healthcare provider about medication and other treatment options.

If feelings of illness do not go away after the motion stops, your symptoms could be due to another condition. See your healthcare provider if you have motion sickness symptoms that last longer than eight hours.

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Motion Sickness .

Golding JF. Motion sickness . Handb Clin Neurol. 2016;137:371-390. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-63437-5.00027-3

Li D, Chen L. Mitigating motion sickness in automated vehicles with vibration cue system . Ergonomics . 2022 Oct;65(10):1313-1325. doi:10.1080/00140139.2022.2028902.

Foster M, Singh N, Kwok K, Macefield VG. Vestibular modulation of skin sympathetic nerve activity in sopite syndrome induced by low-frequency sinusoidal motion. J Neurophysiol . 2020 Dec 1;124(6):1551-1559. doi: 10.1152/jn.00177.2020. 

Leung AK, Hon KL. Motion sickness: an overview . Drugs Context . 2019 Dec 13;8:2019-9-4. doi: 10.7573/dic.2019-9-4. 

Lipson S, Wang A, Corcoran M, Zhou G, Brodsky JR. Severe motion sickness in infants and children . Eur J Paediatr Neurol . 2020 Sep;28:176-179. doi:10.1016/j.ejpn.2020.06.010.

Laitinen L, Nurmi M, Ellilä P, Rautava P, Koivisto M, Polo-Kantola P. Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy: associations with personal history of nausea and affected relatives . Arch Gynecol Obstet . 2020 Oct;302(4):947-955. doi: 10.1007/s00404-020-05683-3. 

Jones MLH, Le VC, Ebert SM, Sienko KH, Reed MP, Sayer JR. Motion sickness in passenger vehicles during test track operations . Ergonomics . 2019 Oct;62(10):1357-1371. doi: 10.1080/00140139.2019.1632938.

Peddareddygari LR, Kramer PD, Hanna PA, Levenstien MA, Grewal RP. Genetic Analysis of a Large Family with Migraine, Vertigo, and Motion Sickness . Can J Neurol Sci . 2019 Sep;46(5):512-517. doi: 10.1017/cjn.2019.64.

Kuiper OX, Bos JE, Schmidt EA, Diels C, Wolter S. Knowing What's Coming: Unpredictable Motion Causes More Motion Sickness . Hum Factors . 2020 Dec;62(8):1339-1348. doi: 10.1177/0018720819876139.

Smith PF, Agrawal Y, Darlington CL. Sexual dimorphism in vestibular function and dysfunction . J Neurophysiol . 2019;121(6):2379-2391. doi:10.1152/jn.00074.2019

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Motion Sickness .

Varis N, Leinonen A, Perälä J, Leino TK, Husa L, Sovelius R. Delayed Drowsiness After Normobaric Hypoxia Training in an F/A-18 Hornet Simulator . Aerosp Med Hum Perform . 2023 Sep 1;94(9):715-718. doi:10.3357/AMHP.6238.2023. 

Altissimi G, Colizza A, Cianfrone G, et al. Drugs inducing hearing loss, tinnitus, dizziness and vertigo: an updated guide . Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci . 2020;24(15):7946-7952. doi:10.26355/eurrev_202008_22477

Seattle Children's Hospital. Motion sickness .

Hromatka BS, Tung JY, Kiefer AK, Do CB, Hinds DA, Eriksson N. Genetic variants associated with motion sickness point to roles for inner ear development, neurological processes and glucose homeostasis .  Hum Mol Genet . 2015;24(9):2700-2708. doi:10.1093/hmg/ddv028

Golding JF, Patel M. Meniere's, migraine, and motion sickness . Acta Otolaryngol. 2017;137(5):495-502. doi:10.1080/00016489.2016.1255775

Koch A, Cascorbi I, Westhofen M, Dafotakis M, Klapa S, Kuhtz-Buschbeck JP. The neurophysiology and treatment of motion sickness .  Dtsch Arztebl Int . 2018;115(41):687-696. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0687

Stromberg SE, Russell ME, Carlson CR.  Diaphragmatic breathing and its effectiveness for the management of motion sickness . Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2015;86(5):452-7.

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By Kristin Hayes, RN Kristin Hayes, RN, is a registered nurse specializing in ear, nose, and throat disorders for both adults and children.

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Motion Sickness

woman in a mask sleeping on a plane

Motion sickness happens when the movement you see is different from what your inner ear senses. This can cause dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. You can get motion sick in a car, or on a train, airplane, boat, or amusement park ride. Motion sickness can make traveling unpleasant, but there are strategies to prevent and treat it.

Preventing motion sickness without medicine

Avoiding situations that cause motion sickness is the best way to prevent it, but that is not always possible when you are traveling. The following strategies can help you avoid or lessen motion sickness.

  • Sit in the front of a car or bus.
  • Choose a window seat on flights and trains.
  • If possible, try lying down, shutting your eyes, sleeping, or looking at the horizon.
  • Stay hydrated by drinking water. Limit alcoholic and caffeinated beverages.
  • Eat small amounts of food frequently.
  • Avoid smoking. Even stopping for a short period of time helps.
  • Try and distract yourself with activities, such as listening to music.
  • Use flavored lozenges, such as ginger candy.

Using medicines for motion sickness

Medicines can be used to prevent or treat motion sickness, although many of them cause drowsiness. Talk to a healthcare professional to decide if you should take medicines for motion sickness. Commonly used medicines are diphenhydramine (Benadryl), dimenhydrinate (Dramamine), and scopolamine.

Special Consideration for Children

family in airport

Motion sickness is more common in children ages 2 to 12 years old.

Some medicines used to prevent or treat motion sickness are not recommended for children. Talk to your healthcare professional about medicines and correct dosing of medicines for motion sickness for children. Only give the recommended dosage.

Although motion sickness medicines can make people sleepy, it can have the opposite effect for some children, causing them to be very active. Ask your doctor if you should give your child a test dose before traveling.

More Information

Motion Sickness in CDC Yellow Book

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Last Updated June 2023 | This article was created by familydoctor.org editorial staff and reviewed by Deepak S. Patel, MD, FAAFP, FACSM

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What is motion sickness?

Motion sickness is a sick feeling triggered by movement. It occurs in cars, buses, trains, planes, or boats. It can occur on amusement rides or virtual reality experiences. Seeing the movement of others or things can trigger it. This condition is not life-threatening, however, it can make traveling unpleasant. Planning ahead helps prevent, avoid, or reduce the effects. Other triggers include:

  • Being in the back seat of a car unable to see the horizon
  • Reading in the car
  • Not getting enough air in the car

Motion sickness is common in older people, pregnant women, and children between the ages of 5 and 12. Also, it’s common in people who have migraine headaches. It may be genetic. Once the motion stops, you’ll gradually feel better. In rare cases, the condition is triggered by a problem with your inner ear. This could be due to fluid buildup or an ear infection. Parkinson’s disease is another cause of the condition.

Symptoms can strike without warning. They can get worse quickly. You may feel sick to your stomach (nausea). Other symptoms include vomiting, pale skin, headache, a cold sweat, dizziness, and irritability.

What causes motion sickness?

Motion sickness is an imbalance between what you see and what you feel. In the car, the car is moving forward. However, your body is standing still. This imbalance is what causes you to feel sick.

You may notice a pattern of sickness when you travel. See your doctor if you experience motion sickness repeatedly. Your doctor will do a physical exam. They will look inside your ears and at your eyes. Your doctor will ask you questions about your health history before recommending treatment.

Prevention Tips

If you know you get motion sickness when traveling, plan ahead. These steps can prevent it or relieve the symptoms:

  • Take motion sickness medicine one to two hours before traveling.
  • Choose the right seat. The front passenger seat is best in the car. Choose the midpoint on a boat. Sit over the wing on a plane. Face forward on a train. Sit near a window on a train. These seats have fewer bumps. They allow you to see the horizon. If you are on a cruise, book a cabin in the front or middle of the ship. Request a room that is closest to the water level.
  • Get plenty of air. Use the air conditioner or roll down the window in a car. Direct the vent toward you on a plane. Sit near a window when you’re on a covered boat.
  • Avoid things you can’t change. For example, don’t ride on a speed boat. Waves and bumps can make you sick. If you can’t avoid it, take medicine in advance.
  • Don’t read while riding in a car, plane, or boat. Look out the window at the horizon. Look at a distant object.
  • Lie down when you feel sick.
  • Avoid a heavy meal before or during travel. Eat small portions of plain food instead. Don’t eat greasy, spicy, or acidic foods before or during travel.
  • Drink lots of water. Avoid alcohol.
  • Talk to your doctor about different therapies. This might include pressure bands (worn on your wrist).

If your symptoms last longer than a few days, see your doctor.

Common medicines that treat motion sickness include Benadryl, Dramamine, and scopolamine. The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) recommends scopolamine. It eases nausea and vomiting. It does not make you sleepy. A skin patch works best.

Antihistamines (one brand name: Benadryl) are helpful. However, these usually make you sleepy. Non-drowsy antihistamines are not effective in treating or preventing motion sickness. Another type of medicine is called antiemetics. These are used to treat nausea and vomiting.

Some of these medicines are prescription. Some are available over-the-counter. Talk to your doctor to determine which is best for you. These medicines work best when taken before you travel.

Once nausea begins, eat a few, plain crackers and drink clear, fizzy drinks (ginger ale is best) to relieve nausea.

Living with motion sickness

Planning ahead is the best advice for motion sickness. If your symptoms are mild, medicines are effective. Be sure to carry the proper medications with you while traveling.

Questions to ask your doctor

  • Can medicine help after the symptoms start?
  • Is motion sickness a sign of a more serious health problem?
  • Can I take motion sickness medicine if I am pregnant or breastfeeding?
  • Are motion sickness medicines safe to take with other medicines?

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Motion Sickness

National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Motion Sickness

Last Updated: August 11, 2021

This article was contributed by: familydoctor.org editorial staff and Alex Rice

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This information provides a general overview and may not apply to everyone. Talk to your family doctor to find out if this information applies to you and to get more information on this subject.

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If motion sickness is spoiling your trip, these 9 tips will come in handy

motion sickness

Excited for your next trip but worried about the nausea and the dizziness that’s going to play spoilsport? We so feel for you sister, but this time we would not let motion sickness spoil your trip. We understand you’ve been waiting for Covid-19 restrictions to lift, so that you can take a much-needed break.

So, let’s get started!

9 revitalizing tips that will prevent motion sickness when you are on the go

1. choose an appropriate seat.

Did you know? The front passenger seat should be chosen to prevent motion sickness , when you travel by car. While going on a boat, you have to choose seats somewhere in the middle. Try to take a seat over the wing on a plane. You will need to face forward on a train, and try to sit near the window.

motion sickness

2. Get that much-needed air

“You will have to make sure that you get enough air while traveling. Use the air conditioner in the car. Try to direct the vent toward you on a plane. Sit near a window to get air, while on a boat. That will surely help you feel better,” says Dr. Jinendra Jain, consultant physician, Wockhardt Hospital, Mumbai.

3. Avoid reading while traveling

If you are an avid reader and have motion sickness, avoid reading while you are in a car, plane, or boat. It may be essential for you to look at a distant object that will help you distract from feeling sick. Also, you need to avoid watching other moving objects like cars passing by, or even movies.

The downsides of using a high pillow: 7 side effects you must know

4. Avoid heavy meals before traveling

“If you have motion sickness , you should eat small portions of plain food. Don’t eat oily spicy or acidic foods before or during travel. These foods aggravate acidity and you may feel nauseated. Try to stay hydrated, drink enough water, and say NO to alcohol,” suggests Dr Jain.

motion sickness

5. Lying down is a good option

Lying down for some people will make their motion sickness better. You can do so when you travel by car or even train. For some people, standing up may be a better position. You can stand while traveling on a train or a boat.

6. Listen to music

Listening to music can be soothing, calm you down, and help you overcome nausea by distracting you. Go for any music of your choice.

7. Chew on basil leaves while traveling

Doing so will help you tackle symptoms of motion sickness like nausea and vomiting.

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8. Take frequent breaks

If you are traveling by car, you need to take breaks. Just walk around and try to breathe fresh air.

motion sickness

9. Take the help of motion sickness medicines

“A majority of people feel nauseated, pukish, dizzy and even get a headache, while traveling. Thus, it is imperative for them to take motion sickness medication, one to two hours before traveling. Take medication after consulting a doctor,” says Dr Jain.

So, take a break from motion sickness and let the excitement prevail!

Nikita Bhardwaj

Six-pack abs are all that Nikita needs, along with her daily dose of green tea. At Health Shots, she produces videos, podcasts, stories, and other kick-ass content. ... Read More

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  • Children's health

What causes car sickness in children and how can I prevent it?

Car sickness is a type of motion sickness. Motion sickness occurs when the brain receives conflicting information from the inner ears, eyes, and nerves in the joints and muscles.

Imagine a young child sitting low in the back seat of a car without being able to see out the window — or an older child reading a book in the car. The child's inner ear will sense motion, but his or her eyes and body won't. The result might be an upset stomach, cold sweat, fatigue, loss of appetite or vomiting.

It's not clear why car sickness affects some children more than others. While the problem doesn't seem to affect most infants and toddlers, children ages 2 to 12 are particularly susceptible.

To prevent car sickness in children, you might try the following strategies:

  • Reduce sensory input. Encourage your child to look at things outside the car rather than focusing on books, games or screens. If your child naps, traveling during nap time might help.
  • Carefully plan pre-trip meals. Don't give your child a large meal immediately before or during car travel. If the trip will be long or your child needs to eat, give him or her a small, bland snack — such as dry crackers and a small drink — before it's time to go.
  • Provide air ventilation. Adequate air ventilation might help prevent car sickness.
  • Offer distractions. If your child is prone to car sickness, try distracting him or her during car trips by talking, listening to music or singing songs.
  • Use medication. If you're planning a car trip, ask your child's doctor about using an over-the-counter antihistamine, such as dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) or diphenhydramine (Benadryl), to prevent car sickness. Both medications work best if taken about an hour before traveling. Read the product label carefully to determine the correct dose and be prepared for possible side effects, such as drowsiness. Nondrowsy antihistamines don't appear to be effective at treating motion sickness.

If your child starts to develop car sickness, stop the car as soon as possible and let your child get out and walk around or lie on his or her back for a few minutes with closed eyes. Placing a cool cloth on your child's forehead also might help.

If these tips don't help or if your child's car sickness makes travel difficult, talk to your child's doctor about other options.

Jay L. Hoecker, M.D.

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  • Concussion in children
  • Brunette GW, et al., eds. Motion sickness. In: CDC Yellow Book 2020: Health Information for International Travel. Oxford University Press; 2019. https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2020/travel-by-air-land-sea/motion-sickness. Accessed Feb. 24, 2020.
  • Motion sickness. Merck Manual Professional Version. https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/injuries-poisoning/motion-sickness/motion-sickness#. Accessed Feb. 24, 2020.
  • Priesol AJ. Motion sickness. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Feb. 24, 2020.
  • Altmann T, et al., eds. Head, neck, and nervous system. In: Caring for Your Baby and Young Child: Birth to Age 5. 7th ed. Bantam; 2019.

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  • Nausea and Vomiting

How to Deal With Car Sickness

Last Updated: April 19, 2022 Approved

This article was co-authored by Chris M. Matsko, MD and by wikiHow staff writer, Jessica Gibson . Dr. Chris M. Matsko is a retired physician based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. With over 25 years of medical research experience, Dr. Matsko was awarded the Pittsburgh Cornell University Leadership Award for Excellence. He holds a BS in Nutritional Science from Cornell University and an MD from the Temple University School of Medicine in 2007. Dr. Matsko earned a Research Writing Certification from the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) in 2016 and a Medical Writing & Editing Certification from the University of Chicago in 2017. There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article has 26 testimonials from our readers, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 533,925 times.

Nothing makes a car ride miserable quite like motion sickness. Since motion sickness is mainly caused by a disruption between what your eyes see and your brain interprets, there are lots of tricks at your disposal. If you can minimize distractions and prevent nausea, you'll feel a lot better. Check out some of our tips for your next car ride.

Take deep breaths of fresh air.

Open the car windows or turn on the air conditioning to get the air moving.

  • Direct the fans so they're pointed right at you. You can also bring along a small handheld fan that you can use if your car doesn't have air conditioning.

Stop the car and take frequent breaks.

Get out and stretch your legs if you're feeling queasy.

  • If you're going on a long car trip, plan on giving yourself a 5-minute break for every 30 minutes of travel, for instance. You can adjust this amount if you need more rest or if you don't want to stop as often.
  • Your breaks don't have to be extensive! Even just stopping at a rest shelter to use the bathroom can be enough of a break.

Keep your eyes on the horizon.

Avoid reading or watching something on a screen.

  • It might help to keep your gaze focused on a single point as you travel to help minimize the effects of car sickness. For instance, if you're driving toward a mountain or along a straight highway, look straight ahead at it.

Relax and take deep breaths.

Practice controlled breathing to prevent nausea.

  • This is really helpful to do with the window down so you're also getting fresh air.

Listen to soothing music.

Turn on music that puts you in a good mood.

  • You may want to pack your own headphones if other people in the car want to listen to something else.

Close your eyes or sit in the front seat.

Sit in the passenger seat so you can keep an eye on the horizon.

  • Some people find that driving the car lessens their motion sickness.
  • If you're comfortable and tired, try to fall asleep. This can help you get through the trip without feeling motion sick.

Pack ginger products to prevent nausea.

Ginger chews, gingersnaps, and ginger drinks can aid digestion.

  • A lot of ginger ale doesn't actually contain ginger. Read labels to find one that includes it or sip a non-alcoholic ginger beer that contains real ginger.

Munch on bland snacks if it's a long car trip.

Snack on simple, dry snacks if you're feeling hungry.

  • Avoid greasy fatty foods like fries or potato chips. You should also skip drinks that have dairy or carbonation since these can irritate your sensitive stomach.

Stick to a light meal before you travel.

Avoid traveling on an empty stomach but don't eat a huge meal.

  • You should also avoid filling up on a lot of liquid. Not only will you need to stop for the restroom more frequently, but the excess liquid in your stomach can make you nauseated.

Take anti-motion medication 30 to 60 minutes before you travel.

Pick up over-the-counter medication the prevents nausea.

  • Anti-motion medication is more effective if you also try other techniques like breathing fresh air and keeping your eyes on the horizon.
  • If you're treating motion sickness in children, talk with their pediatrician since treatment is considered off-label. This means you'll probably be advised to give your child an antihistamine that makes them drowsy so they're less likely to feel motion sick.

Avoid smoking the night before you leave.

Take a break from smoking to deprive your body of nicotine.

  • If you're not a smoker but other people in the car are, ask them to not smoke while you're traveling together.

Expert Q&A

Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS

  • Be prepared! Bring along a small bucket or bag in case you need to vomit. Then, you can throw away the mess at the next rest stop you come to. Thanks Helpful 4 Not Helpful 0
  • Communicate with the driver if you're starting to feel poorly. Let them know if you need to crack the window or pull over. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 1

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Avoid Car Sickness

  • ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/childrens-health/expert-answers/car-sickness-in-children/faq-20057876
  • ↑ https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2020/travel-by-air-land-sea/motion-sickness
  • ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK539706/
  • ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/12782-motion-sickness
  • ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4818021/
  • ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-motion-sickness/basics/art-20056697
  • ↑ https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/tips-to-prevent-kids-from-getting-car-sick/
  • ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7048153/#b3-dic-2019-9-4
  • ↑ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21036110

About This Article

Chris M. Matsko, MD

Medical Disclaimer

The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment. You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment.

Read More...

To deal with car sickness, get some fresh air by opening a window or stopping the car briefly so you can get out and walk around for a few minutes. If you're unable to stop, close your eyes or otherwise block your view of motion outside the car. You can also try munching on something dry, like crackers or bread, to alleviate symptoms. For tips on using ginger to get relief from your car sickness, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Motion sickness

Motion sickness is feeling dizzy, or feeling or being sick when travelling by car, boat, plane or train. You can do things to prevent it or relieve the symptoms.

Check if you have motion sickness

Symptoms of motion sickness may include:

  • feeling sick (nausea)
  • feeling cold and going pale

How to ease motion sickness yourself

Do reduce motion – sit in the front of a car or in the middle of a boat look straight ahead at a fixed point, such as the horizon breathe fresh air if possible – for example, by opening a car window close your eyes and breathe slowly while focusing on your breathing distract children by talking, listening to music or singing songs break up long journeys to get some fresh air, drink water or take a walk try ginger, which you can take as a tablet, biscuit or tea don’t.

do not read, watch films or use electronic devices

do not look at moving objects, such as passing cars or rolling waves

do not eat heavy meals, spicy foods or drink alcohol shortly before or during travel

do not go on fairground rides if they make you feel unwell

A pharmacist can help with motion sickness

You can buy remedies from pharmacies to help prevent motion sickness, including:

  • tablets – dissolvable tablets are available for children
  • patches – can be used by adults and children over 10
  • acupressure bands – these do not work for everyone

A pharmacist will be able to recommend the best treatment for you or your child.

Causes of motion sickness

Motion sickness is caused by repeated movements when travelling, like going over bumps in a car or moving up and down in a boat, plane or train.

The inner ear sends different signals to your brain from those your eyes are seeing. These confusing messages cause you to feel unwell.

Page last reviewed: 19 June 2023 Next review due: 19 June 2026

How to Prevent Car Sickness in Children

Medical review policy, latest update:.

Minor copy changes throughout to more specifically address car sickness and a new medical review.

What causes car sickness in children?

Car sickness symptoms in children, read this next, car sickness treatments for children, can you prevent children from getting car sick.

If your child gets sick despite your best efforts, stop the car as soon as it’s safe to do so and let your queasy tot get some fresh air and a few sips of water (or even a Popsicle if you can find one). If possible, have him close his eyes and rest for a few minutes before you get back on the road.

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Why Throwing Sticks for Your Dog Could Be Dangerous

Travel Sickness in Dogs – What It Is and How to Treat It

Angela Vuckovic

Travel sickness in dogs is not a condition you can miss. When your pooch accompanies you for a car ride, you’re bound to find out soon enough, when they start vomiting all over your car seats. The lucky pawrents probably didn’t have a clue things like these happen, but yes, canines can get car sickness same as we humans do. And it’s not a pretty picture: most pooches will be throwing up throughout the unfortunate voyage. So how can you be sure that your doggo’s car barfing incident is not a part of a bigger problem?

What Is Motion Sickness In Dogs?

It’s very similar to that in humans. If you’ve ever been on a boat or an airplane or even in a car and you’ve got that dizzy, sweaty, ‘I’m about to throw up,’ feeling, that’s pretty much what your dog is experiencing as well.

Vets typically find motion sickness or canine car sickness in younger dogs, though no dog is immune. They believe that is because as in humans, when there is motion sickness, your inner ear is not balanced and your whole body is paying for it. Same goes for your dog–and for younger dogs with less developed inner ears, their balance may be off. (Just think about how funny your little ball of fluff is as he tumbles all over the place. That’s his inner ear working on getting big and strong for balance.)

Experts say that many puppies will ‘outgrow’ motion sickness by the time they’ve had their first birthday cake, but not always.

And that’s the thing. If your adult dog has car sickness, it could be because they’re anxious about being in the car in general. Sometimes they get nauseated because they aren’t getting enough air conditioning (they’ll ram their pupsnouts so far into that air vent you’d think it was glued) or maybe the motion and their vestibular system are out of whack. Maybe they’re not used to car rides and the only ones they have are to the vet, so they have a poor association with cars in general and that anxiety and stress may make them pupchuck or have a pooplosion in the car.

Helping make car rides less stressful and anxious may take some of the symptoms of canine car sickness away, but not always.

You might get that feeling in your stomach and your throat may get dry. The same is likely happening to your dog. Your dog may not show any discoloration, but they do show symptoms they’re not feeling well, and they include:

  • pacing in the car
  • stillness/lethargy
  • excessing drooling

Just like in humans, sometimes the only thing you can do is stop and get out for a minute to get some fresh air and calm down. This may be what you need to do for your dog as well, particularly if that ‘gluck-gluck-gluck’ sound alerting you that he’s about to vomit is coming at you. Walking some may give him some stress relief as well, and that may reduce dog motion sickness in the car.

Did your pet start throwing up while you were driving them to the park or the vet? Before you let panic overtake you, make sure to rule out car sickness as a potential reason for your dog’s nausea. Unfortunately, we don’t (yet) speak canine, so you’ll have to rely on non-verbal cues to check if your dog has symptoms of motion sickness. Here are the most common signs that your dog’s vomiting is caused by a car drive:

  • Excessive panting
  • Unusual licking or smacking of lips
  • Excessive drooling

Of course, your pet could be having just one or all of the symptoms above when they ride in the car. The most obvious sign of canine car sickness is vomiting, of course, but it’s often preceded by one of the more subtle travel sickness signs. Unless nausea started before you got in the vehicle, it’s highly likely that the driving motion is wreaking havoc on your pup’s digestive system .

Thankfully, while motion sickness is a nuisance both for furry sufferers and their human companions, in most cases it’s an issue that’s easy to solve. The first step is to try common methods of treating travel sickness in dogs, such as:

Pooch should call shotgun. Most dogs who are sick during car rides feel nauseated from looking through the moving landscape from the side windows. In the front seat, your pet is more likely to look in front of them or shift their focus toward you. This is common treatment for humans dealing with carsickness as well. Don’t forget the doggie seatbelt , though!

Carrier inside the car. Some dogs will feel much better if they are inside a pet carrier while in the car. You can throw a blanket over it or leave it as it is- the point is to give your dog a place where they will feel safe and comfy during the ride. A carrier will allow them to feel familiar with something they’re used to and to den for protection. Not to mention, it may help contain vomit should the worst happen.

Anti-nausea drugs. In case all else fails, you can try giving your pet some over-the-counter medications that are designed to alleviate symptoms of canine car sickness. However, you shouldn’t give any drugs to your pooch unless a vet approved it.

If your dog has travel sickness, don’t despair. A few simple steps or modification to your existing routine can help keep nausea at bay- just don’t plan a road trip until you’re sure your four-legged passenger is up for it.

Angela Vuckovic

A proud mama to seven dogs and ten cats, Angela spends her days writing for her fellow pet parents and pampering her furballs, all of whom are rescues. When she's not gushing over her adorable cats or playing with her dogs, she can be found curled up with a good fantasy book.

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Should My Dog Wear a Winter Coat?

Should My Dog Wear a Winter Coat?

As the temperatures drop and winter approaches, many pet parents face a common question: Should my dog wear a winter coat? It’s a valid question! After all, we bundle up before heading out into the ice and snow. Why shouldn’t our dogs? This article will explore the considerations, benefits, and potential downsides of winter coats for dogs. Plus, we’ll share the coats we use to keep our pups warm and cozy. Let’s get started… Do All Dogs Need a Coat in Winter? The short answer is no. Not all dogs need a winter coat to stay comfortable in the colder temperatures. In fact, some dogs will be more comfortable without a winter coat. That leaves us with one more question – how do you know if your dog will need a coat this season? Here are a few factors to consider: Breed & Coat LengthWhat breed or breed mix is your dog? Some dogs, like the Alaskan Malamute, Siberian Husky, and Keeshond, were specifically bred to handle the colder temperatures. These dogs have thick double coats, including a water-resistant guard coat and a plush, warm undercoat. If you own one of these dogs, you may see them relaxing outside, happily napping in a snowbank. They thrive in cooler weather but struggle when the temperatures climb. On the other end of the spectrum, some dogs were bred to live in warmer climates. These dogs have short coats, offering little protection from the winter cold. Age Your dog’s age could make them more sensitive to changes in temperature, both heat and cold. If you have a young puppy or a senior dog, they may need a little extra care and attention. Not only do they feel cold faster, but the low temperatures could worsen the discomfort of a senior dog’s arthritis or other joint problems. Even if your dog once thrived in cold temperatures, they may struggle in their older years.Disease or Illness If your dog is currently living with a disease or illness, it can compromise their ability to regulate their body temperature effectively. Your dog’s condition can impact many aspects of their well-being. It may weaken their immune system, causing dehydration or interfering with proper circulation. Contact your veterinarian if you’re unsure whether your dog’s illness could impact their ability to handle the cold. Activity LevelAre you heading outside to hang out in your yard, or are you planning to engage in something more active like a hike or skijoring? As your dog’s muscles are engaged and working, they are producing heat that raises the body temperature. If your dog occasionally needs a light jacket, they may not need one during heavy activity. On the other hand, if your dog is usually okay when you’re going for a walk, they may need a light jacket or sweater if they are going to be standing around.

Do Dogs Cry Tears?

Do Dogs Cry Tears?

Perhaps you spotted tears streaming from your pet’s eyes and wondered: do dogs cry tears as an emotional response? Or is there a different explanation for this phenomenon? Well, the answer is pretty straightforward – dogs don’t produce tears because of their emotions like we humans do. They produce tears primarily to lubricate their eyes, and remove dust and other irritants. But, this does not mean that they don’t express emotions in other ways – here’s what you need to know about your teary-eyed furball.Do Dogs Cry Real Tears?If you spot tears running from your dog’s eyes, you are not deceived – they are real. However, they are not tears of sadness or emotion, as dogs simply don’t express feelings the same way as we do. The role of those tears is more of a bodily function. They are there to lubricate the eye, making sure it functions as it should. After all, dogs can just rub their eyes or place a few drops inside when needed. So, their body does the job for them, and hence the tears. Of course, an excessive amount of tears is not natural. And neither are dry and tearless eyes. So, in either one of these cases, you should schedule a visit with your vet. Dry eyes in dogs are also known as keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) or "dry eye syndrome," and can lead to discomfort, irritation, and potential complications if left untreated. In many cases of dry eyes, veterinarians prescribe artificial tears or  lubricating eye drops to help moisturize the eyes and relieve discomfort. These drops can help supplement the natural tear production and provide relief from dryness. 

What to Know About Osteoarthritis in Cats

What to Know About Osteoarthritis in Cats

Osteoarthritis, also referred to as OA, is a condition that’s common in cats – experts have found that 90% of kitties over the age of 12 have it. And because cats may hide the signs, it can be overlooked, so it’s a good idea to learn about the symptoms and keep an eye out for them, especially as your pet gets older. The good news is, if your feline friend is diagnosed with this condition, there are things you can do to help her experience less pain.

Vitamin B12 Deficiency in Cats: The Basics

Vitamin B12 Deficiency in Cats: The Basics

Like humans, cats can develop a vitamin B12 deficiency. This water-soluble vitamin is needed for a variety of functions, affecting everything from their digestion to cognitive function, so it’s important to address a deficiency in your pet.Here’s some information on the symptoms and causes of vitamin B12 deficiency, along with what you can do to address it.

How Can I Tell If My Dog Has a Fever?

How Can I Tell If My Dog Has a Fever?

High fever is no joke, and can be quite serious – both for people and their furry four-legged friends. Yes, dogs can have a fever too, and it can be a much more serious condition for them than it is for us. Unfortunately, fever is not an ailment you can spot with your bare eye. Because of this, you will need to thoroughly observe your pet’s behavior and learn how to spot those little details that indicate a fever. Read on as we go through the basics of dog fever and just how to tell if your pet needs your help.Symptoms of Fever in DogsDogs, like humans, can develop a fever as a response to illness or infection. It’s the body’s natural way to fight off the “intruders” in the body. Fever comes in many forms and for various reasons. You can tell if your dog has a fever by observing their behavior and checking for physical signs. Here are just a few of the most common indicators.Increased Body Temperature: 

A Former Elvis Impersonator Adopts Elvis, the Dog Who No One Wanted

A Former Elvis Impersonator Adopts Elvis, the Dog Who No One Wanted

Elvis, the only dog who didn’t get adopted at Anti Cruelty’s Fall in Love adoption event, finally found a forever home with an owner who used to work as an Elvis Presley impersonator. A three-year-old pit bull terrier mix was the only pooch out of 22 dogs and 39 cats who didn’t find a forever home at the November 11 adoption event. After the event, Elvis had to be sent back to his kennel which served as his home for around four months.Shortly after the event, the shelter took to social media to ask for help finding this handsome boy a forever home. The post that has gone viral said: “Elvis is the only dog that didn’t find a home during our Fall in Love adoption event. He met a lot of potential adopters but sadly did not get adopted. Help us find Elvis a family to love!”In the post, the shelter described Elvis as a “three-year-old meatball” with “the silliest personality.”“His giant smile lights up every room he enters. Elvis is a snuggler, so he hopes you’re okay giving up your personal space.”Elvis arrived at the shelter as an injured stray dog. Since the pooch didn’t put weight on his hind leg, the shelter took X-rays which showed a fractured pelvis. Although the fracture healed completely during his stay at the shelter, Elvis might be prone to arthritis in the future. A few days later this handsome boy found his forever home! And this is where things get really interesting. The couple who adopted the cute pup has a special connection to him - one of them used to be an Elvis Presley impersonator.Loren Agron, one of the pup’s new dads, worked as an Elvis-impersonating waiter at Ed Debevic’s, a 1950s-themed diner where staff entertained customers with choreographed dance routines. Agron dressed up as Elvis Presley and called himself Elvis Parsley.“I wore a black cowboy shirt and quintessential giant Elvis sunglasses, I had long sideburns and my hair was all pumped up and slicked back,” Agron told The Washington Post.“Elvis has always been a big part of my life because I’ve always loved music from that era,” he added.First, Agron went to the shelter to meet Elvis alone, and then he came back with his partner, Drew Wilhelm. “While we were sitting in the waiting room to meet him, I felt like a father waiting for his newborn son to arrive,” said Wilhelm. “As soon as I saw him, I knew that was our dog,” he added. “He couldn’t stop jumping on us, he was so excited we were there to see him.”The couple adopted Elvis that day and took him to his forever home.  “Elvis has left the building,” the shelter wrote alongside a photo of the happy family. “His adopters have been waiting for the right time to welcome a dog into their family, and once they saw Elvis on the news, they couldn’t deny that it was fate.”The couple plans to keep the handsome pup’s legendary name and smitten with their new four-legged companion. “The couple is head over heels in love with their new family member and already has a dog bed and tons of toys waiting for him at his forever home,” the shelter wrote in a post. “Loren is a dedicated ACS supporter and has hosted many of the ACS’s fundraising events at Chicago’s fabulous drag queen, Debbie Fox. We couldn’t be happier for Elvis who finally got his happily ever after!”Join the PetGuide community. Get the latest pet news and product recommendations by subscribing to our newsletter here.

Family Dog Alerts Parents to a Teen’s Stroke and Saves His Life

Family Dog Alerts Parents to a Teen’s Stroke and Saves His Life

Dogs are so deserving of their title – man’s best friend - and they continue to prove it day in and day out. From being our best friends to providing irreplaceable acts of service to people in need, there’s so much that dogs do that makes a difference and this story only proves it.The fateful event took place in Spring, Texas, where the family Tanner lives, alongside their precious pooch, Axel. Axel is a 1-year-old  border collie, a rescue that quickly became a cherished member of the family and, as life would have it, their savior. It was around 5 am on a calm Saturday morning when Axel – completely out of the ordinary – jolted Amanda and her husband from their sleep. And it was no regular attention-seeking behavior. Something was amiss, and Axel was determined to let the couple know.“He was pawing me more than normal to get me to move,” Mr. Tanner explains for  Today.com. Realizing that the dog was clearly trying to wake them, Amanda’s husband went downstairs to check on things and let the dog outside. Axel refused. It wasn’t the outdoors he was seeking - there was something else. He quickly stopped in front of the closed doors of the 17-year-old Gabriel Tanner. Mr. Tanner went inside to check up on his son but realized what was the cause of the dog’s panic. Young Gabriel was having a stroke, his speech was slurred, and he could not feel his right side. At once they rushed him to the emergency room at the Memorial Hermann the Woodlands Medical Center. Young Gabriel was quickly treated and made a recovery. Dr. Sabih Effendi, who treated him, says that “by waking the parents up, and leading them to the boy, the dog made a “massive” difference in Gabriel’s outcome”. “It’s very amazing that their dog alerted and started this whole process of getting everyone awake and going downstairs,” Effendi continues. “When somebody’s acutely having a stroke, the neurons are dying. … If he was not found and another three or four hours went by, there would have been more and more and more brain injury.”The Tanner family is extremely grateful to have had Axel by their side in this crucial moment. They can only wonder what would have happened if the dog wasn’t there. He practically saved Gabriel’s life. “We wouldn’t have thought to go into Gabriel’s room and wake him up. He’s a teenager. It was a Saturday morning. We went to bed late. We wouldn’t think to go in there until maybe noon,” Amanda says.Nowadays, Axel is a precious member of their family and tends to follow Gabriel wherever he goes. He also sleeps with the teen a lot more, always on the lookout for anything out of the ordinary. A true four-legged friend and proof that dogs can be loyal to no end! 

From Woofs to Words: Pet Translation Device Is Just Around the Corner

From Woofs to Words: Pet Translation Device Is Just Around the Corner

What would be the first thing you’d ask your dog if they could talk instead of barking? If dogs talked you could learn how much your pooch loves you, or maybe you’d be more interested to know why Fido peed on the carpet, again.Unfortunately, this level of conversation is unlikely to happen any time soon. But recent advances in artificial intelligence and speech and translation technology may bring us one step closer to conversing with our pets.Thanks to AI, scientists are figuring out how to translate animals’ facial expressions and vocalizations into a language understandable to people. In recent years, scientists have been using AI systems to analyze a sheep’s face to determine whether an animal is in pain, and another one is being used to listen to the communication calls of marmoset monkeys.Dr. Con Slobodchikoff, an animal behaviorist and professor of biology at Northern Arizona University is an expert on animal communication. Slobodchikoff has spent 30 years trying to better understand the calls of prairie dogs. Together with a computer scientist colleague, he developed an algorithm that translates the vocalizations of prairie dogs into English. “I thought, if we can do this with prairie dogs, we can certainly do it with dogs and cats,” said Slobodchikoff according to NBC News. Slobodchikoff imagined a cell phone app or device that you could point to a dog to record a video and audio of a dog’s behavior and then upload it for an AI system to analyze. “The AI would translate this for you into English, or any other language,” explained Slobodchikoff. The translation, Slobodchikoff said, could be something like ‘I’m hungry’ or ‘I need to go outside to pee’ or ‘I want to go for a walk.’To teach an AI algorithm about the nuances of canine communication, Slobodchikoff collected thousands of videos of dogs showing various types of body movements and different types of barks. For this to work, Slobodchikoff has to explain to the AI algorithm what each bark and tail wag means. This means that, at this stage, scientists must provide explanations of canine body language and vocalization, which gives room to individual interpretation. However, Slobodchikoff strives to include the growing scientific research that uses data gained from actual experiments rather than guesswork to interpret the true meaning of canine behavior.Being able to understand what dogs are saying would help owners forge stronger bonds with their pets, but also much more. It would make caring for dogs much easier and also help save lives. According to ASPCA, around 920,000 cats and dogs are euthanized each year in the U.S. alone - in many cases, because of misunderstood behavioral problems. For example, a dog that exhibits aggressive behavior might simply be afraid or anxious, and if there was a device to help us understand its fears, it might be possible to help that dog and save its life. “You could use that information and instead of backing a dog into a corner, give the dog more space,” said Slobodchikoff.Keeping track of the advances made in this field, an Amazon-sponsored report on future trends predicted that we’ll have commercial pet translators in the next 10 years. Even if pet translators become a reality, it’s unlikely that we’ll be able to have a real conversation with our pets. But, with the help of this new technology, owners would be able to understand how their dogs feel, including if they are in pain or sick, and what makes them happy or sad.Although more research is needed, we are one step closer to translating barks.

Should You Switch Your Pets to a Vegan Diet?

Should You Switch Your Pets to a Vegan Diet?

It’s true, cats and dogs don’t drive gas guzzlers or use fancy energy-sucking appliances, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have an environmental impact. As it turns out, our four-legged companions play a big role in the global climate crisis. You may wonder, but what do Fido and Whiskers have to do with climate change?! It’s not our pets we should blame, but the products we buy for them.  Researchers have shown that the meat-based pet diet is the biggest contributor to cats' and dogs’ carbon pawprint as its production requires plenty of energy, land, and water. On top of that, the production of pet food emits obscene amounts of CO2. A new study, led by Andrew Knight from Griffith University, Australia, estimated the potential environmental benefits of pawrents switching their cats' and dogs' meat-based diet to a vegan diet. Knight published his findings in the open-access journal PLOS ONE. The livestock industry has huge environmental impacts, including land and freshwater consumption and gas emissions. Many studies have investigated livestock impacts in relation to human diets, but only a few have considered the impact on cat and dog diets.  According to recent research, nutritionally sound vegan cat and dog diets, that lack eggs, dairy, and meat, are safe and may be equally healthy as meat-based diets. Curious about the potential benefits of vegan-based pet diets, Knight calculated a series of estimates of what would happen if all dogs and cats in the United States or worldwide were switched to nutritious vegan diets. For his estimates, Knight used pet population data from 2020 for the United States and 2018 data for the rest of the world along with governmental data and input from a variety of prior studies. Results showed that cats and dogs in the U.S. consume one-fifth of the livestock that is consumed by Americans and about one-tenth globally. Knight's model estimated that nearly two billion land-based livestock could be spared from slaughter yearly if all cats and dogs living in the U.S. switched to vegan diets. Billions of aquatic animals and nearly seven billion livestock animals could be spared around the world if all cats and dogs stopped eating meat-based diets. In addition to billions of lives saved, these estimates also suggest a huge potential reduction in the use of land, water, and biocides, greenhouse gas emissions, and emissions of other pollutants. To put this into perspective, transitioning all dogs in the world to a vegan diet could free up an area of land larger than Saudi Arabia and for cats larger than Germany. Transitioning all dogs to vegan diets could lead to an estimated reduction of greenhouse gas emissions greater than the amount of all emissions from the UK, or Israel for cats. However, Knight noted that the data he used is several years old and might underestimate exact numbers, so the real environmental benefits of vegan diets may be even greater than he estimated. He also admitted that the calculations required him to make some assumptions and that further research is needed to support these estimates. “This study shows environmental benefits when vegan diets are used to feed not just people, but dogs and cats as well. However, to safeguard health, it’s important that people feed only vegan pet food labeled as nutritionally complete, produced by reputable companies with good standards,” said Knight according to Phys.Org. Switching to a vegan diet might be good for the planet, but it may not be so great for your furry companion’s health. A number of commercial vegan diets for dogs exist on the market, but not all of them are equal in quality. If you decide to go the vegan route, look for an experienced veterinary nutritionist to discuss your pet’s dietary needs and create a dietary plan that reduces health risks.

Researchers Find Genetic Links Between Human and Canine Brain Tumors

Researchers Find Genetic Links Between Human and Canine Brain Tumors

In a groundbreaking study, researchers have discovered striking similarities between the most common type of brain tumor in dogs and humans - meningioma. These findings were published in the scientific journal Acta Neuropathologica. Until now, scientists struggled to find reliable experimental models to understand the biology of and develop effective treatments for these tumors. But thanks to these newly discovered similarities, doctors will be able to use a classification system that identifies these aggressive tumors in humans and pooches.“The discovery that naturally occurring canine tumors closely resemble their human counterparts opens numerous avenues of exploring the biology of these challenging tumors,” said Dr. Akash Patel, an associate professor of neurosurgery at Baylor College of Medicine and principal investigator at the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute (Duncan NRI) at Texas Children’s Hospital. “It also provides opportunities for developing and studying novel treatments applicable to both humans and dogs,” he added.During the study, researchers analyzed 62 dog meningiomas from 27 breeds and found that the tumors were remarkably similar to the same kinds of tumors in humans. To this date, this is the largest study of the gene expression profiles of the canine meningioma. Others, including Dr. Jonathan Levine, a VMBS professor and the head of the Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences (VSCS), and Dr. Tiemo Klisch, assistant professor at Baylor College of Medicine and Principal Investigator at Duncan NRI, were involved in the study along Dr. Patel. Meanwhile, assistant professor Dr. Beth Boudreau was a key collaborator. Previous work done by Levine, Boudreau, and others at VMBS, which found similarities between gliomas - the second most common type of brain tumors - in humans and dogs, was instrumental for Patel’s study. “We ended up agreeing to provide Patel with canine tumor samples we had worked years and years to achieve, to see if he could isolate the RNA, which is not always easy to do,” said Levine, in a statement. “He was able to produce this very robust data set that showed a similar pattern structure to human tumors. Our team also provided Dr. Patel with key clinical outcome data, including responses to certain treatments.”Now that the researchers have found a link between brain tumors in humans and dogs they hope to establish clinical trials to continue their research. Setting up this type of clinical trial can take several years of planning and requires funding.“We are really interested in creating wins for both human and animal medicine,” said Levine. “For example, we hope to give dog owners access to therapy that’s not available anywhere else in the world through clinical trials. At the same time, that information will also inform the next step of human trials.”As it happens, another group of researchers from the University of California, Davis, conducted a similar study with matching results about meningioma in humans and dogs. This study was also published in the scientific journal Acta Neuropathologica.Now, the two research groups plan to collaborate in the future and share their findings to develop treatment options for both human and canine brain tumors. “If we do one trial, we’d be able to enroll patients a lot more quickly, which would make it easier to get larger data sets resulting in stronger findings. So we have a lot of interest in doing a collaborative trial,” added Levine. “We really see the team out in California as potential partners.” Thanks to this groundbreaking research, scientists now have a better understanding of brain tumors and are one step closer to developing life-saving treatments for both humans and dogs. Join the PetGuide community. Get the latest pet news and product recommendations by subscribing to our newsletter here.

World’s Oldest Dog Posthumously Stripped of His Title

World’s Oldest Dog Posthumously Stripped of His Title

Last year, the world’s oldest dog was thought to be Bobi – who was reportedly  31 years old. However, a recent investigation into this claim led to him being posthumously stripped of the title by none other than Guinness World Records. The lofty title was suspended this January, as doubts rose about the dog’s reported age. Bobi lived in Portugal and sadly passed away last fall, and according to his owner, at a grand age of 31 years. However, a recent review by Guinness World Records revealed that they didn’t have the necessary evidence to support that claim."Without any conclusive evidence available to us right now, we simply can't retain Bobi as the record holder and honestly claim to maintain the high standards we set ourselves," Guinness Director of Records Mark McKinley said. "Of course, as with any record, we'll gladly assess any new evidence should we receive any."Before Guinness World Records actually grants a world record, they require ample evidence of a claim. Pictures, videos, statements from witnesses, documents, and anything similar are all required. And when pets are concerned, microchip data can also be examined. "Central to Bobi's evidence was microchip data sourced from the Portuguese government database, the SIAC, which it transpires, when chipped in 2022, did not require proof of age for dogs born before 2008," McKinley said. "With the additional veterinary statement provided as evidence for Bobi's age also citing this microchip data, we're left with no conclusive evidence which can definitively prove Bobi's date of birth."So, who is the real oldest dog in the world? Well, before Bobi’s lofty claim, there was the famous Bluey, an Australian cattle dog who held the record, being 29 years and 5 months old. But with these recent events, the future of this record will certainly change. McKinley claims that microchips need to be widely adopted around the world for serious claims to be made."Until that time, we'll require documentary evidence for all years of a pet's life, we'll continue to ask for vet and witness statements and we'll also consider microchip data as well where available," he added. "It's for this reason that we're not yet in a position to confirm a new holder for the record, although we certainly hope that the publicity around the record title encourages pet owners from around the world to get in touch."Sadly, Bobi died in October 2023, just months after celebrating what was reportedly his 31st birthday. He was a purebred Rafeiro do Alentejo, a native Portuguese dog breed that is known for its ability to protect livestock. These magnificent dogs have an average life expectancy of 12 to 14 years, and it was thought that Bobbi managed to live twice the time expected – but we’ll never know if that’s actually true or not.

Study Confirms Dogs Prefer Food Over Toys

Study Confirms Dogs Prefer Food Over Toys

If someone asked you to pick between your favorite toy or your favorite food, what would you choose? If your answer is food, you’re not alone - researchers have found that dogs prefer their favorite food over their favorite toy. It’s no secret that dogs like playing with their toys, but the goal of this new study was to determine whether toys make an effective training reward.In the first study of its kind, researchers from the University of Florida found that nine out of 10 dogs will choose food over toys. For the purposes of this study, researchers used social media advertisement and word-of-mouth to recruit 10 dogs from the local area. The dogs participating in the study come from a range of breeds, including two German shepherds, a labrador, a German shorthaired pointer, and six mixed breeds. Researchers allowed the dogs to pick their favorite food and favorite toy. Each dog was shown six food items - including a hotdog, cheese, carrot, hard dog treat, soft dog treat, and kibble - and six toys -  such as a ball, squeak toy, bone, tug toy, stuffed animal, and empty plastic water bottle. Each dog had an opportunity to pick their favorite food and favorite toy. During the next phase of the experiment, the dogs were given progressively more difficult tasks to get a reward. The dogs were rewarded with either their favorite food or favorite toy. The researchers discovered that nine out of 10 dogs gave up on the task earlier when rewarded with their favorite toy, as opposed to when given their favorite food. These findings show that dogs are more motivated to work for food than toys.Previous studies have shown that dogs prefer human attention to food but, until now, there has been little research into how dogs rank their favorite toys. “I was surprised, but nobody’s looked at how dogs will work for toys versus food before,” said Dr. Nicol Dorey, the lead author of the study.The researchers hope that these new findings could be useful for dog owners trying to train their dogs. “Understanding a dog’s preferred reward can be essential for shaping behavior effectively,” concluded the researchers.Some dog trainers recommend using toys instead of treats while training, to prevent excess calorie intake and to keep the training more fun for the dog. If you decide to train your puppy using toys, the key is not to offer food at any step of the training. “You can definitely train your dog with toys if you start really early,” Dr Dorey said. “This is what’s done with search and rescue dogs, they start really early with toys as a reinforcer.”The researchers noted that more research is needed, especially since human attention acts as a strong reinforcer when training dogs. “I think the next study should look at all three - attention, food, and toys - and what dogs really like the best when training,” said Dr Dorey. Regardless of what the next study finds, I’m sure my pooch would pick food over me and toys any day of the week. What about your dog -  are they team food or team toys?

How Do I Know If My Dog Has Frostbite?

How Do I Know If My Dog Has Frostbite?

Cold weather affects our pets even more than it does us – dogs are much more sensitive to harsh weather elements and can be especially affected by the freezing winter cold. Depending on their size and the thickness of their coat, dogs can be more or less endangered when the scales go way down below zero, and for some dogs, going out in subzero temperatures can be quite risky. So much so, that they can even get frostbite. While frostbite in dogs can range from mild to severe, it’s a condition you can’t ignore – you need to know how to quickly spot signs of frostbite in dogs and make sure to provide first aid ASAP to prevent any permanent damage. How Do I Know If My Dog Has Frostbite?Exposing your dog to extremely cold temperatures is always risky. While there are certain breeds, like  huskies, who are adapted to extreme weather conditions, dogs are generally not ideally suited for freezing temperatures and as such are at risk of getting frostbite. Frostbite is a result of skin and tissues freezing, and it usually affects the most exposed parts of the dog’s body, like the paws, ears, nose, and tail. However, it can’t always be easy to spot frostbite in the earliest stages – usually, pet owners realize they’re dealing with frostbite when the damage is already done. Try and keep an eye out for the following symptoms if your pet has been out in the cold:Swelling:When frostbite sets in, the affected area will often swell. This happens when the top layers of the skin and tissue become gradually frozen. Likewise, the swollen area could feel firm or hard to the touch.Coldness:The areas that are frostbitten will feel much colder to the touch than the rest of the body. This can be the first and the most obvious sign of frostbite.Skin Ulcers and Blisters:These nasty growths can appear when frostbite has really taken hold of an affected part. As the frostbitten flesh begins to thaw, it also blisters. Limping:When your dog limps in cold weather, it can be the first indication that something is wrong. This is usually due to the soft tissue on the paws being exposed to freezing ground. Discolored Skin:Another tell-tale sign of frostbite is the discoloration of the skin on the affected area. The main cause of this is the reduced blood flow to the area. The skin in this case will appear gray, pale, or bluish.  It goes without saying that frostbite is very dangerous. If you suspect it in your dog, please seek the help of a veterinarian at once. It is paramount that you leave professionals to take care of your pet, rather than to attempt to fix the situation on your own. Things like hot water, direct heat, and other attempts to reheat the flesh quickly will only lead to more damage. Also, keep in mind that the signs of frostbite can take several days to appear. This is mostly true for small areas of flesh being affected, such as the tip of the tail, or the ears. 

A Six-legged Abandoned Dog Has Surgery to Remove Extra Limbs

A Six-legged Abandoned Dog Has Surgery to Remove Extra Limbs

A six-legged cocker spaniel found abandoned in a supermarket parking lot in Wales has had surgery to remove her extra limbs. The pooch was named Ariel, after the Little Mermaid, because her extra limbs were fused together, resembling a mermaid’s tail. Greenacres Rescue, a non-profit group from Haverfordwest in Pembrokeshire, Wales, took Ariel in, arranged her surgery, and found her a foster family.  Ariel, who was born with multiple birth defects, was operated on at Langford Vets Small Animal Referral Hospital. Surgeon Aaron Lutchman performed the surgery and managed to save all four limbs amid fears that one hind leg might have to be amputated. “She’s doing really well, she’s bounced back and she’s a happy little dog and we’re hoping she’s going to go on to lead a fabulous little life,” said Lutchman. “She’s got her own little character and even though she’s had a tough start in life she really has done well to come through this as she has… if we can do what we can to help then that’s just absolutely brilliant.” According to Mikey Lawlor, founder and manager of Greenacres Rescue, Ariel was skinny and distressed when she was rescued. “The vet who initially assessed Ariel noted that, in addition to her two surplus back legs, she also had an additional vulva,” said Lawlor. A CT scan later revealed that Ariel was born with only one kidney, which increased the complexity of the medical treatment she required. Unfortunately, the pup’s pelvis never formed properly because she had two hip joints on one side of the body. As a result, Ariel’s normal hind leg had no muscle tone, so there was a chance that that leg had to be amputated as well. “Thankfully, that wasn’t the case though as it’s shown signs of having strengthened a lot in recent months,” Lawlor added.Ariel is recovering nicely after her surgery, having lots of love and fuss from the nursing team. Now that the surgery is behind her, everyone is hoping that she’ll have an easy and quick recovery.“There were two procedures which lasted about two hours, but both went fine. The next day she was up, walking around and eating and drinking.”“Now we just need to keep our fingers crossed she doesn’t get any infections, but she really is in the best of hands,” added Lawlor according to BBC. The brave pooch was discharged over the weekend and has already returned home to her foster family in Wales. According to her vet, Ariel has to rest for the next two weeks to recover completely. The founder of Greenacres Rescue hopes that the organization will be able to find a forever home for Ariel after she completes physiotherapy and recovery. “The response we had to Ariel’s story so far, including calls and emails from as far away as New York and Australia, has been incredible - so I’ve no doubt she’ll be snapped up,” said Lawlor.“I just can’t say enough of a thank you to everyone who’s contributed to helping her.” The organization raised around $19,000 for Ariel’s life-changing surgery thanks to donations from people all over the world.“Ariel was a complicated little dog whose care required close collaboration across a number of our specialist teams, including orthopedics, soft tissue surgery, anesthesia, and radiology,” said Vicki Black, the director of Langford Vets’ Hospital. “As part of the University of Bristol, we are a center committed to career-long learning and are proud to innovate and treat pets like Ariel. We are delighted such a lovely animal has recovered well from her surgery.”Join the PetGuide community. Get the latest pet news and product recommendations by subscribing to our newsletter here.

Study Finds That Cats Have Hundreds of Facial Expressions

Study Finds That Cats Have Hundreds of Facial Expressions

If you’ve lived with cats for any length of time, you know that they express themselves in a variety of ways, and their faces can tell you a lot. Yet, there are some people who think that cats are expressionless, especially when compared to other animals. Well, science has once again come through to prove that cats are social and communicative; you just have to know how to read them.

Is Rock Salt Toxic to Dogs?

Is Rock Salt Toxic to Dogs?

As winter comes, the roads become icy and treacherous and rock salt is used to make them less slippery. While roads covered with rock salt are common in the chillier months of the year, dog owners are wondering if it is safe for their pets to walk on rock salt or accidentally ingest it. After all, dogs are known to be inquisitive and eager to lick or nibble on anything and everything so the idea is not as far-fetched as some might think at first. So, without further ado, let’s find out if rock salt is toxic to dogs and how you can best protect your pet in the winter months.Is Rock Salt Toxic to Dogs?Sadly, the answer is yes – rock salt, commonly used for de-icing roads and sidewalks in winter, can be toxic to dogs if ingested in large quantities. Rock salt, or sodium chloride, can cause salt poisoning or hypernatremia in dogs. Ingesting excessive amounts of salt can lead to symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, excessive thirst, increased urination, and in severe cases, it can even result in tremors, seizures, or death.And that is not all. In addition to the risk of ingestion, rock salt can also cause irritation to a dog's paws if they walk on treated surfaces. The salt can cause dryness, cracking, and discomfort, and dogs may try to  lick their paws to alleviate the irritation, leading to ingestion of the salt. After all, the roads are meant for cars and tires, so it was sadly never taken into account that pets would walk on them as well. Still, as a caring owner, there are a number of precautions that you can take in order to ensure that your dog doesn’t ingest rock salt – here are some of the most popular ways.Clean their paws after walks:Wipe your dog's paws with a damp cloth after walks to remove any salt or de-icing chemicals. Do this after every walk and as soon as you get home. Remember to take care of your pet’s paws and paw pads. When injured or unkempt, they can cause great discomfort. Furthermore, you can consider using  dog boots if your pet doesn’t mind it – they’ll keep their paws safe and warm.

travel car vomit

  • Motion Sickness

Motion sickness is thought to happen because your brain can’t reconcile differing inputs from your visual, vestibular, and proprioceptive systems – when your eyes tell your brain that you’re moving, but the proprioceptors in your skin tell your brain that you’re sitting still. Unfortunately, the default when you can’t reconcile these inputs is to feel nauseated. Ask any adult who gets motion sick while riding in a car (and is obviously riding forward-facing) there is no magic cure for preventing motion sickness. However, there are things you can try doing to reduce the chance of your child feeling sick – and ways to make their car seat easier to clean if they do vomit.

In this article we discuss where the child should sit in the vehicle, which direction they should face, when to travel , how to entertain a child while avoiding exacerbating motion sickness, natural and medicinal remedies , vehicle features that reduce motion sickness, and how to manage and clean up vomit messes.

What does motion sickness look like in a child, before the vomiting?

Nausea may be the first recognized symptom of motion sickness, but the nausea is almost always preceeded by other subtle symptoms, such as a sensation of fullness in the stomach area, malaise, drowsiness, and irritability.

Where should a motion sick child sit in the car?

Looking out the side windows is the last thing you want to do if you’re prone to motion sickness. Trust us –Alisa can ruin an entire car trip by looking out the side window for 30 seconds. Why? Things appear to be moving much faster when you look out the side windows, compared to when you look out the front or back. The faster things around you appear to be moving, the more your brain gets mixed signals about whether YOU are sitting still or moving fast. This is something to keep in mind if you have a child who gets motion sick — don’t ask them to play games like “I Spy” where they have to look out the side windows.

For most kids, a view of the horizon makes them feel less sick. 

For rear-facing kids , this means a view out the back window. Try to sit the child more upright (while staying within the car seat’s limits), remove the vehicle head rest if possible, and select a car seat that sits high up to give the best view out the back (we recommend the Clek Foonf for this, as it sits the highest). However….we know some rear-facing children who do better when sitting lower and more reclined, and we think this is because they can’t see out the rear window or side window. It’s hard to predict what one child may prefer. 

For forward-facing kids (and adults) , the center of the back seat is the best spot in the back seat, since it gives the least obstructed view out the front window. You can see in the photo here that Alisa sits in the middle seat when she rides in the back, because she can look out the front window and feel less sick. 

For SUV’s and minivans, keep motion sick kids in the second row, since the 3rd row is bumpier and more likely to cause nausea. 

travel car vomit

Should you turn a rear-facing child to forward-facing if they get motion sick?

In our decades of experience, we have found that turning a child forward-facing usually doesn’t do much to change the motion sickness, but it always decreases the child’s safety . 

If forward-facing were a cure for motion sickness, then no adults would get motion sick in a car. As an adult who still gets horribly motion sick, even when sitting in the front seat, Alisa says “How I wish that forward-facing cured motion sickness!”

How can you entertain your child in the car if they get motion sick?

Music: Great for all ages! For older children we recommend musicals with a storyline to follow — these are especially entertaining and distracting.

Audiobooks: A fantastic option for preschoolers and school age kids. Your local library likely has lots to borrow for free. Emily’s family has listened to many, many audiobooks over the years, and her motion sick prone child highly recommends them for entertainment.

Podcasts: There are tons of podcasts created specifically for kids. Common Sense Media has some helpful suggestions for podcasts for children along with some recommendations to get you started. KidsListen is an app that aggregates podcasts geared towards children and continues to add new episodes and podcasts. 

Games: If you’re going to play games that require looking out the window, like I Spy or license plate games, make sure the child is looking only out the front or rear windows, not the side windows, since the side windows will make them feel sicker. 

Should you feed a motion-sick-prone child in the car?

For obvious reasons it’s best to avoid feeding a child who is prone to motion sickness while they are riding in a car. But just like feeling really full can make you more prone to vomit, so too can being really hungry. So if you can, offer your child a snack before the car ride, so they’re not hungry and also not super full. 

Some recommend eating ginger to prevent motion sickness. However, a search of the literature shows there is no evidence that ginger is effective in preventing or treating motion sickness. But, if your child likes ginger there likely isn’t much of a downside to having them eat ginger in the car. 

Should you travel during naptime/bedtime?

Sleep is a magic pill for motion sickness. It’s the only time you’re guaranteed to not feel sick. Therefore we suggest trying to travel during naptime or bedtime. 

Drowsy driving is real and very risky. So make sure that when traveling at bedtime, the adult driving is wide awake. Drowsy driving puts everyone in the car at risk, as well as everyone else on the road. If there are two adults in the car, it’s ideal for them to take turns driving every few hours so each gets a chance to nap while the other is driving. 

Could an undiagnosed eye problem be the cause of your child's motion sickness?

Your child’s motion sickness is likely NOT related to an eye problem. It is extremely uncommon for motion sickness to be related to eye pathology in children. 

Pediatric ophthalmologists recommend the following:

  • All children should have annual vision screening done at the pediatrician, in the community (ie Elks or Lions), or at school. This is especially important in the setting of motion sickness.
  • If there is any concern for abnormal eye movement, alignment, or poor vision, then a child should be referred to pediatric ophthalmology (not an optometrist).

Again, if your child has motion sickness, they most likely DO NOT have a problem with their eyes. Amblyopia, strabismus, and refractive error are common eye problems in children that can lead to problems seeing clearly. Nystagmus is uncommon in children, but perhaps more likely related to motion sickness.

Strabismus: Any misalignment of the eyes. Crossing (esotropia), outward deviation (exotropia), or vertical misalignments (hypertropia) are the most common forms.

Amblyopia: A decreased vision in one or both eyes due to abnormal early childhood development of vision. This can be due to strabismus, focusing issues, or obstruction of vision (ie cataract, droopy eyelid).

Refractive Error: The eye works much like a camera. If the image is not in focus when it gets to the retina (the “film”) of the eye, there is a refractive error. Near-sightedness (myopia), far-sightedness (hyperopia), and astigmatism are common refractive errors.

Nystagmus: An involuntary shaking of the eyes.

AAPOS.org is an excellent resource for those concerned about their children’s eyes. 

Note: Behavioral Vision Therapy which is touted as a cure for many problems, is not scientifically proven, especially for reading issues, learning disabilities, and motion sickness. 

What about medication?

Medicines work best when given before travel. They won’t work as well, or at all, once the child already feels sick. Please discuss with your pediatrician BEFORE giving your child medicine.

Scopolamine: This is the most effective medication for the prevention of motion sickness. It’s typically applied as a patch several hours before travel. However, scopolamine is typically not recommended for children under 10 years of age. The most common side effects are a very dry mouth and dilated pupils (which makes it hard to read and makes you sensitive to light, like when you get your eyes dilated at the eye doctor).

1st Generation Anti-Histamines: Although sedating, these medicines can be effective at preventing motion sickness.

Moderately effective: Promethazine (Phenergan), Cinnarizine

Least effective: Meclizine (Antivert), Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) Dimenhydrinate (Dramamine), Cyclizine (Marezine)

Before giving your child medicine, please discuss with your pediatrician. 

Non-sedating antihistamines (Claritin, Zyrtec), Ondansetron (Zofran), and ginger root are not effective in the prevention or treatment of motion sickness. 

You can read more about what is and is not effective for motion sickness in this review article here.

Non-Medicine Remedies: Sniffing rubbing alcohol (yes, we're serious)

A recent study of adults with nausea in the Emergency Room found that sniffing rubbing alcohol pads was just as effective as Zofran (the anti-nausea medication Ondansetron) at reducing nausea. On average the patients rated their nausea as 5 out of 10, with 1 being very little nausea and 10 being the worst, before treatment, and 2 out of 10 after sniffing the alcohol or being given the Zofran. It is not known if alcohol can help with motion sickness, but it’s worth a try since alcohol pads are cheap, available at local drug stores, and easy to keep handy in the car. Just make sure the child doesn’t try to eat or suck the pad. 

What about accupressure bands?

Accupressure bands worn on the wrist, like Seabands , which come in children’s sizes, may help some kids and adults. We’ve heard from quite a few parents who swear by these. Bigger kids and adults can also try PSIbands . 

Ways to Keep your Child Cool in the Car

Vehicle Temperature: Make sure to keep the car on the cooler side.

Clothing Choices: Don’t overdress your child, since an overheated child is more likely to feel sick. 

When choosing a car seat:  Avoid black or other very dark colors which absorb heat and make the child feel hotter. Avoid fabrics that feel like they will easily wipe down, since these are more likely to make the child sweat.

Cooling Towels: An evaporative cooling towel can easily and quickly keep your child cool. The Frogs Toggs Chilly Pad cooling towel is inexpensive and does a great job. Wet the towel and it will still feel cool an hour later (or more). Even though the towel is wet, it won’t make the child or car seat all wet. We use these ourselves on hot days during car seat appointments and we think they’re great. 

Air Conditioning Diverter:  Many vehicles have no air vents in the back seat and as a result have very poor airflow in back. A Noggle is a great solution. It uses dryer vent tubing, covered with fabric, and connects to one of the air vents in the front seat. It brings cool air straight from that vent through the tubing directly to your child in the back seat. You can either hang the Noggle from one of the handles on the roof of the car, or allow your child to hold the end and direct the air where they want it to go. 

travel car vomit

Vehicle features that decrease motion sickness

Here are the two most important features to look for in your next vehicle to reduce the chance of your child feeling sick.

Functional 2nd row center seat

Since a forward-facing child will feel best riding in the center seat, you’ll want to be sure to get a vehicle that has a center seat in the 2nd row. This means you’ll want to avoid captain’s chairs in the 2nd row. 

But just because the vehicle has a center seat doesn’t mean you’ll be able to put your motion sick child there. Surprisingly, the center seat of many vehicles is too narrow to accommodate a forward-facing car seat, and many are too narrow to accommodate even the narrowest backless booster. In our family vehicle buying guide we’ll tell you whether a narrow backless booster fits in the center seat. If it doesn’t you’ll want to pass on this vehicle. If a narrow backless booster won’t fit in the space, a forward-facing car seat won’t fit either. 

It also matters whether the center seat has flexible or rigid seat belt buckles, and how wide the center seat is. The wider the seat, and the more flexible the buckles, the more likely it is to fit a forward-facing car seat or booster in the center. 

Does the center seat have a head restraint? If it doesn’t, your child in a backless booster can’t sit in that position, since backless boosters require head restraints to prevent severe whiplash (caused by the lack of a head restraint.) If there is a head restraint, is it removable? Some head restraints protrude and interfere with the proper fit of forward-facing car seats and high back boosters. Removing the head restraint, if permitted by both vehicle and car seat manufacturer, can eliminate this issue. 

Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go

This is available on a growing number of newer vehicles starting around 2014. It’s one of the early steps towards autonomous driving. Just like regular cruise control, with ACC you set the speed you want to maintain. The difference is that with ACC you also set your following distance, basically telling the car how aggressive a driver you want it to be. ACC not only maintains your set speed, it also slows your car down if the car in front of you slows down, to maintain your desired following distance. Once the ACC detects that there is sufficient following distance, your car will accelerate to go back up to your desired speed. 

Those who get motion sick will be the first to tell you that some drivers make them feel much sicker than others, particularly due to how the driver accelerates and brakes. ACC is the most gentle driver of all, because the car can accelerate and brake more smoothly than a human can. And a gentle ride is a ride where you are less likely to feel sick. 

ACC works differently in various vehicles. Many versions work only at set speeds above 25 or 35 mph. This means that many will not work for driving around town. Many versions also shut off when the car goes below a certain speed, meaning that if you’re on the highway and run into stop and go traffic, the ACC won’t work.

However, some versions, called ACC with Stop and Go, will continue to work even in the worst highway traffic jam where you are sometimes at a complete standstill. If you’ve felt like losing your lunch in stop and go traffic with all the lurching forward and back as the driver speeds up and slows down every few seconds, you need ACC with Stop and Go. It won’t get you out of the traffic jam, but it will decrease the lurching your body experiences because it provides a much smoother ride. We think its a godsend for folks who get motion sick. 

Our Family Vehicle Buying Guide includes a column indicating whether or not the vehicle’s ACC comes with Stop and Go.

Click here to learn more about Adaptive Cruise Control. 

How to Prevent the Mess

Because cleaning vomit out of car seats, particularly the straps, is a parenting nightmare, we suggest having your motion-sick-prone child wear a bib/smock OVER the car seat straps, to keep the car seat and themselves clean. AFTER your child is buckled snugly, put the bib or smock on them. If the grossness happens, the gross part only gets on the bib.

Bibs and Smocks we’ve found to be useful:

Neat N Cozy: We affectionately call this the “puking poncho.” It’s made of soft terry cloth, cleans easily in the washing machine, and is comfortable for kids to wear even on long rides. The Neat n Cozy snaps around the child’s neck and has a snap up pocket to help catch any vomit that might try to run down. Many families tell us how indispensable these have become in their travels with a motion sick child, letting them know that their vehicle and their child will stay clean even if the child vomits. All you have to do (if it gets dirty) is roll it up, unsnap it, and throw it in the washing machine. 

travel car vomit

Bumkins Super Sized SuperBib:   Inexpensive and does the trick nicely. Also has a small pouch that may help catch some vomit that tries to run down. 

travel car vomit

Bib-On: A full coverage bib that you can use without the (detachable) sleeves to keep your child neat and cool in the car. Comes in larger sizes so it’s perfect for older children.

Cleaning the Car Seat

We have a whole page about this! How to Clean your Car Seat

What does motion sickness look like in a child (before the vomiting)?

Nausea may be the first recognized symptom of motion sickness – but the nausea is almost always preceded by other subtle symptoms such as a sensation of fullness in the stomach area, malaise, drowsiness, and irritability.

Where should a child sit in the car?

Looking out the side windows is the last thing you want to do if you are prone to motion sickness. Trust me – I can ruin an entire car trip by just 30 seconds of looking out the side windows. Why? Things appear to be moving much faster when you look out the side windows, compared to when you look out the front or back window – and the faster things tend to appear to be moving, the more the brain gets mixed signals about whether you are sitting still or moving fast. This is something to keep in mind if you have a child who gets motion sick that you aren’t asking them to play games where they are looking for things they can only see out the side windows.

For most kids, a view of the horizon line will make them feel less sick.

For rear-facing kids , this means a view out the back window. So try and sit the child more upright, remove the vehicle head rest (if possible), and select a car seat that sits higher up if possible (the Clek Foonf sits the highest and gives the best view out the back). However, we know of some rear-facing kids who do better when sitting lower and more reclined (they likely don’t see much out the rear window or the side windows). It is hard to predict what one child may prefer.

2 Diono's RF in Honda Odyssey and me in center

For minivans & SUVs, keep motion sick kids in the 2nd row – as the 3rd row is bumpier and will make them feel sicker.

Should you turn a child forward-facing if they get motion sick?

In our decades of experience, we have found that turning a child forward-facing typically doesn’t do much to change the motion sickness, but it ALWAYS decreases the child’s safety.  

If forward-facing were a cure for motion sickness, then no adults would get motion sick in a car. As an adult who still gets horribly motion sick – even when sitting in the front seat – how I wish that forward-facing cured motion sickness!

How to keep your child entertained, without making them sick?

For most kids who get sick, activities that require them to look down – like books, movies, or games – will make them feel sick.

Music – but especially musicals where there is a storyline for an older child to follow – is great for kids of all ages.

Audiobooks are a great option for older pre-schoolers and school age kids.

There are also a growing number of podcasts created for kids. CommonSenseMedia has some helpful suggestions on navigating podcasts for children  along with some recommendations to get you started. KidsListen is an app that aggregates podcasts geared towards kids – and continues to add new episodes and podcasts. 

If you are going to play games that require looking out the window (like I-spy or license plate games) make sure the child is only looking out the front or rear windows, not the side windows since the side windows will make them feel sicker.

Should you feed the child in the car?

For obvious reasons, it is best to avoid feeding a child who is prone to motion sickness while they are riding in a car. Just as feeling really full can make you more prone to vomit, so too can being really hungry. Therefore, if you can, try and have the child eat a snack before the car ride so they aren’t hungry and aren’t super full.

Some recommend eating ginger to prevent motion sickness – however a search of the literature shows that there is no evidence that ginger is effective in preventing or treating motion sickness. But, if your child likes ginger there likely isn’t much of a downside to having them eat ginger in the car.

Is it best to travel at naptime/bedtime?

Sleep is the magic pill for motion sickness – as it is the only time you are guaranteed to not feel sick. Therefore, we suggest trying (whenever possible) to travel during nap time or at bedtime.

Drowsy driving is real and it is very risky. Therefore, make sure when traveling at bedtime that the adult who is driving is wide awake as drowsy driving puts not only the driver at risk but everyone else in the car and those sharing the road. If there are 2 adults in the car, it is ideal for the adults to trade off every few hours so that each gets a chance to nap while the other is driving. 

Could an undiagnosed eye problem be the cause of your child’s motion sickness?

  • All  children should have annual vision screening done at the pediatrician, in the community (ie Elks or Lions) or at school. This is especially important in the setting of motion sickness.
  • If there is any concern for abnormal eye movement, alignment or poor vision, then a child should be referred to pediatric ophthalmology (not an optometrist).

www.AAPOS.org  is an excellent resource for those concerned about their children’s eyes.

Note:  “Behavioral Vision Therapy”, which is touted as a cure for many problems, is not scientifically proven–especially for reading issues, learning disabilities and motion sickness.

Medicines work best when given before travel – as they won’t work as well, or at all, once the child already feels sick.

Scopolamine

The most effective medicine for the prevention of motion sickness is Scopolamine – typically administered as a patch that is applied several hours before travel. However, Scopolamine is typically not recommended for kids under 10 years of age. The most common side effects are a very dry mouth and dilated pupils (hard to read, sensitive to light – like when you get your eyes dilated at the eye doctor).

1st Generation Anti-Histamines

Although sedating, these medicines can be effective at preventing motion sickness.

Moderately Effective: Promethazine (Phenergan), Cinnarizine

Least Effective: Meclizine (Antivert), Diphenhydramine (Benadryl), Dimenhydrinate (Dramamine), Cyclizine (Marezine)

Before giving your child medicine, please discuss with your pediatrician.

Non-sedating antihistamines (Claritin, Zyrtec), Ondansetron (Zofran), and ginger root are not effective in the prevention and treatment of motion sickness.

You can read more about what is and is not effective for motion sickness in this review article here .

Non Medicine Remedies: Sniffing Rubbing Alcohol (yes, we’re serious!)

A recent study of adults with nausea in an Emergency Room found that sniffing rubbing alcohol pads was just as effective as Zofran (the anti-nausea medication Ondansetron) at reducing nausea. On average the patients rated their nausea as 5 out of 10 (1 being very little nausea, 10 being the worst) before treatment and 2 out of 10 after sniffing the alcohol or being given the Zofran. It is not known if alcohol can help with motion sickness – but its worth a try since alcohol pads are cheap (get them at your local CVS, Rite Aid, etc) and easy to keep handy. Just make sure the child doesn’t try to eat or suck the pad.

Below are the 2 most important features to look for in your next car to reduce the chance of your child feeling sick:

Functional 2nd Row Center Seat

Since a forward-facing child will feel best riding in the center seat, you’ll want to make sure to get a vehicle that has a center seat in the 2nd row. This mean’s you’ll want to avoid captain’s chairs in the 2nd row as you’ll lose out on the best seat in the house (2nd row center).

But… just because the vehicle has a center seat, doesn’t mean you’ll be able to put your motion-sick child there. Surprisingly, the center seat of many vehicles is too narrow to accommodate a forward-facing car seat – and many are too narrow to even accommodate the narrowest backless booster. In our family vehicle buying guide we’ll tell you whether a narrow backless booster fits in the center of the vehicle – if it doesn’t, you’ll want to pass on this vehicle as there won’t be any way for a forward-facing child to ride in the center seat. We’ll also tell you how wide the center seat is and whether the seat belt buckles are flexible or rigid – the wider the center seat, and the more flexible buckles there are, the greater your chance of fitting a forward-facing car seat or high back booster in the center. We’ll also tell you if there is a head restraint in the center seat – as if there isn’t, you can’t put a child in a backless booster or an older child/adult there as they are at risk for severe whiplash. If there is a head restraint, we’ll let you know if it is removable – as some head restraints protrude and interfere with the proper fit of forward-facing car seats and high back boosters, but you can get around this issue if the head restraint is removable. 

The video above shows a Volkswagen Golf with Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go (for traffic jams).

Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) is available on a growing number of newer cars (starting around 2014) and is one of the early steps towards autonomous driving. Just like regular cruise control, with ACC you set the speed you want to maintain. The difference is that with ACC you also set your following distance – basically telling the car how aggressive of a driver you want it to be. ACC not only maintains your set speed, but if traffic in front of you slows down ACC will slow your car down to maintain your desired following distance. Once the ACC detects that there is sufficient following distance, your car will accelerate to go back up your desired speed. 

Those who get motion sick will be the first to tell you that some drivers make them feel much sicker than others – particularly due to how the driver accelerates and brakes. ACC is the most gentle driver of all – as the car can accelerate and brake much smoother than a human can. And a gentle ride is a ride where you are less likely to feel sick. 

All car manufacturers’ ACC works a little differently. Many versions of ACC only work at set speeds above 25-35mph. This means that many will NOT work for driving around town. Many versions also shut off when the car goes below a certain speed – meaning that if you are on the highway and find yourself in stop and go traffic, the ACC won’t work. However, some versions have ACC with Stop and Go – which means that the ACC will continue to work even in the worst highway traffic jam where you are sometimes at a complete standstill.

Ever felt like losing your lunch in stop and go traffic – with all the constant lurching forward and back as the driver speeds up and slows down every few seconds? We can’t get you out of a traffic jam, but ACC with Stop and Go can decrease the lurching your body experiences in stop and go traffic because the car is a much smoother driver than a human. ACC with Stop and Go can be a godsend for those who get motion sick. 

Our Family Vehicle Buying Guide includes a column that says whether the vehicle’s ACC does Stop and Go or not

Click here to learn more about Adaptive Cruise Control.  

Ways to keep your child cool in the car

Make sure to keep the car on the cooler side. Don’t overdress your child as overheating will make your child more likely to feel sick. 

When choosing your child’s car seat, try and avoid black as black will absorb heat and make the child hotter than lighter colors. Fabrics that feel like they will easily wipe down are also likely to make the child sweat more than some of the other car seat fabrics.

An evaporative cooling towel is an inexpensive and easy way of keeping a child cool. The  Frogg Toggs Chilly Pad cooling towel  costs about $10 and does a great job. Just wet the towel and it will feel cool for an hour or more. Even though the towel is wet, it won’t make the child or the car seat all wet.

Many vehicles have no vents for the back seat and as a result very poor airflow in back. A Noggle is a great solution. It uses dryer vent tubing (that they cover in fabric so it isn’t hideous) that connects to one of the air vents in the front seat and brings the cold air from the A/C directly to the child in back. You can either hang the Noggle from one of the handles on the roof of the car, or allow the child to hold it so they can better control the air blowing on them.  

travel car vomit

2-year-old rear-facing using Noggle to stay cool

How to prevent the mess (even if your child vomits)

Because cleaning vomit out of car seats – particularly the straps – is a parenting nightmare, we suggest having your prone-to-puking child wear a bib/smock OVER the straps to keep the car seat and themselves nice and clean should the grossness happen. AFTER your child is buckled snug, put the bib/smock on them… then if the gross stuff happens, the gross part only gets on the bib.

travel car vomit

The Bumkins Super-Sized SuperBib is under $10 and should do the trick nicely – and has a small pouch that may help catch some of the vomit that tries to run down.  

travel car vomit

How to clean a car seat (in case of vomit)

How to clean a car seat.

Click on the pink text below to read more about each topic (and click again to hide the answer).

Prevention is key: Keeping the car seat clean from vomit & other yuck

Because cleaning vomit out of car seats – particularly the straps – is a parenting nightmare, we suggest having your prone-to-puking child wear a bib/smock OVER the straps to keep the car seat and themselves nice and clean should the grossness happen. AFTER your child is buckled snug, put the bib/smock on them… then if the gross happens, the gross only gets on the bib. The Bumkins Super-Sized SuperBib is under $10 and should do the trick nicely – and best of all it has a pouch at the bottom, as nothing is grosser than puke running down to the floor of the car. Another full-coverage bib is the Bib-On . These are also helpful for kids who eat in the car seat and let’s just say aren’t the neatest of eaters.

Read the cleaning instructions in the car seat’s manual

Seriously… read the instruction manual to your child’s car seat – there is always a section that discusses how to clean the car seat. If you can’t find it, you can usually find it free online on the manufacturer’s website. Can’t find it or confused by the instructions – call the car seat manufacturer’s customer service number. They’ll be happy to give you the do’s and don’ts for cleaning your specific car seat.

Why can’t I use Clorox, Lysol, vinegar, Febreeze, etc on the car seat?

Car seats are one of the only products you’ll ever buy for your child with the sole purpose of saving their life. Therefore, maintaining the integrity of the car seat is critically important to it being able to offer your child the protection it was designed to – as car seats have to withstand thousands of pounds of force in a crash. Cleaning products – even “green” products – can affect the integrity of the plastic and the straps – especially given that car seats are exposed to extreme heat and extreme cold. The harness straps have elastic fibers that can be compromised.

Removing & washing the cover

Most car seats have a fabric cover that is removable – and machine washable. Getting the cover off may be tricky, so here are a few pointers:

Read the instructions to your car seat and check the company’s website to see if they have videos on removing/replacing the fabric cover – as often there is a specific order that will make it much easier to get the cover off (and of course this order is often counterintuitive).

Put your smartphone’s camera to good use – video yourself removing the cover as this will help you when it comes time to put the cover back on. If you don’t have the memory for a video, take still pictures at each step. Trust me… while you think you’ll remember how to get it back on, you won’t.

In most cases, removing the fabric cover requires detaching the shoulder straps from the metal plate they connect to in the back of the car seat – since the shoulder straps are threaded through holes in the fabric cover. Take a picture of how the shoulder straps are connected before you disconnect them – and when you put the seat back together pay careful attention that you connected them properly (and didn’t put any twists into the straps).

Pulling the cover off can be hard on some seats – particularly on the more expensive seats where the fabric cover is tucked neatly into the frame of the seat.

Do NOT put the fabric cover in the dryer. Trust me on this one it will ruin it – literally, the fabric on the back disintegrates in the dryer. Not only that, but the instructions to basically every car seat forbid you from putting the cover in the dryer. As such, make sure you wash the cover at a time when you have sufficient time for it to air dry.

If you wish to maintain the integrity of the flame retardants used in the fabric cover to your child’s car seat, avoid detergents. If you want to get rid of the flame retardants, use detergent to wash the fabric cover.

Removing & washing the straps

Washing straps is tricky for several reasons.

First, some manufacturers don’t want you to submerge the straps in water, others permit the straps to be submerged in water (here’s why you need to read the manual to your child’s car seat). Most manufacturers only allow you to clean the straps with water (no baking soda, vinegar, lysol wipes, febreeze, etc). From personal experience we’ve found that a toothbrush (with water, not toothpaste on it!) can help clean straps – and especially the nooks and crannies in the chest clip and buckle tongues. If your straps are still smelly from vomit or other yuck despite your best attempts with water we recommend replacing the straps which is something you can do for less than $15 on most seats by calling the car seat company’s customer service number.

Second, some car seats have the straps permanently attached to the car seat – meaning that you can’t take them out to wash them or replace them. 

Cleaning the crevices We’ve found a dry-wet-dry approach to be best. First, shake out the car seat. Next, if you have a dustbuster or vacuum, use the long thin sucker and get whatever stuff you can out with this. Next, if there is hardened on stuff (think raisins that have joined together to form a solid mass) use a flat head screwdriver to gently dislodge the yuck.

Now comes the wet. Take a rag that is wet (but not dripping) with water and wrap it around the end of the screwdriver and get the stuff out of the crevices. Some crevices might respond best to a toothbrush (with water, not toothpaste!). Again, don’t use chemicals on the shell of the seat – no lysol, clorox, febreeze, baking soda, etc – stick with water, it will get the plastic clean.

Last, take a dry rag or paper towels and dry off the seat – paying particular attention to areas with metal making sure they are dry so there is no chance of anything getting rusty. If it’s a sunny day, doing the cleaning outside can be helpful as the mess goes in the grass not on your living room floor and the sun will help dry the car seat.

What about a car seat cleaning service?

Cleaning services specifically devoted to car seats & strollers have begun to proliferate in many areas in the past few years. Having seen car seats that parents have brought to various cleaning services in the NYC area I’ve noticed several recurring problems with many of these businesses.

First, they clearly do not know how to work a car seat – as the chest clips are often threaded improperly when the car seat is returned, the straps are improperly routed and/or twisted.

Second, there is almost always “yuck” visibly remaining in the seat – particularly in the crevices.

Third, it is unclear whether their cleaning practices are in keeping with the instructions as stated by the car seat manufacturer.

Tot Squad is the only one whose cleaning practices have been approved by any (albeit a few) of the car seat manufacturers.

travel car vomit

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travel car vomit

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The Original CareBag Vomit Bag with Super Absorbent Pad, Box of 20 Bags – Absorbent Emesis Bag for Emergency – Medical Grade, Disposable Nausea Bag for Travel – Barf Bags for the Car, Uber, & Lyft

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The Original CareBag Vomit Bag with Super Absorbent Pad, Box of 20 Bags – Absorbent Emesis Bag for Emergency – Medical Grade, Disposable Nausea Bag for Travel – Barf Bags for the Car, Uber, & Lyft

Purchase options and add-ons, about this item.

  • 𝗡𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥 𝗖𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗡 𝗩𝗢𝗠𝗜𝗧 𝗔𝗚𝗔𝗜𝗡 - Use it for emergencies, then simply throw away your disposable bag like a trash bag! The bag will catch any mess and prevent you from staining your clothes, car, carpet, or floor.
  • 𝗡𝗢 𝗦𝗣𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗦 𝗢𝗥 𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗦 - Unlike a paper bag, the leak proof bag contains a super absorbent pad that absorbs up to 16oz of liquid within seconds
  • 𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗥𝗬 𝗜𝗧 𝗔𝗡𝗬𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘 – Thanks to its small size, it can fit in your bag or your car for emergencies. The vomit bags are discreet and manageable, so you do not have to worry about it being seen.
  • 𝗡𝗢 𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗘 𝗡𝗔𝗦𝗧𝗬 𝗦𝗠𝗘𝗟𝗟 - The super-absorbent pad and sealable bag prevent odor from lingering in the air keeping your area smelling clean.

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travel car vomit

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The Original CareBag Vomit Bag with Super Absorbent Pad, Box of 20 Bags – Absorbent Emesis Bag for Emergency – Medical Grade,

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PRODUCT CERTIFICATION (1)

Climate neutral by ClimatePartner

Climate neutral by ClimatePartner certifies the carbon footprint of a product was calculated and all associated emissions were offset.

BetaLife 45PCS Car Trash Bag, Vomit Bag, Easy Stick-On Disposable Car trash bags, leak-Proof, Convenient, Can be used in Kitc

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CareBag

Never Clean a Pail Again!

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About CareBag

Cleanis’ award-winning CareBag solution is a first-to-market innovation that simplifies the unpleasant task of patient waste management.

With over 20 years of experience, Cleanis has consistently delivered top-tier products to caregivers and healthcare professionals.

Our relentless dedication to quality is unwavering, and we constantly endeavor to meet and exceed the highest standards of excellence.

Product Description

Carebag vomit bag

Product details

  • Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
  • Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 9.84 x 1.97 x 5.91 inches; 15.68 ounces
  • Item model number ‏ : ‎ CLEANIS VOMIT BAG
  • Material Feature ‏ : ‎ Biodegradable Warning
  • Date First Available ‏ : ‎ April 22, 2011
  • Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ Cleanis
  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0051AZZCM
  • #167 in Antinausea Treatments
  • #3,749 in Sales & Deals

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Carebag Medical Grade Vomit Bag with Super Absorbent Pad, 20 Count - Disposable Emesis Bags for the

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LDPE liner containing an OB5 additive, with a long shelf-life (5 years in storage). After use, this plastic degrades under aerobic conditions when exposed to heat and/or sunlight. The exact rate and extent of that degradation is unpredictable and depends on the amount of sunlight and heat this product receives. It will not degrade or emit greenhouse gas in anaerobic conditions in landfill. Not for composting.

Statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition.

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Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.

To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.

Customers say

Customers like the portability, size, performance, smell and ease of use of the waste bag. For example, they mention it's convenient to keep in car, easy to tuck into a purse or pocket and perfect for on the go. They say it works perfectly, eliminates smell and is easy to use.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Customers are happy with the performance of the waste bag. They say it works great, is extremely helpful, and comes in handy. Some customers also say it's easy to use and a life saver.

"Use a couple of these on a road trip w/sick partner. The bags worked exactly as claimed and were easy to handle and dispose of!" Read more

"... They work every well . They pull closed tightly. You get a box of 20...." Read more

" These work so well ! Im pregnant and have to carry these with me every where I go...." Read more

"...carsick and we needed something that was easy to travel with, and worked well (read: no leaking!)...." Read more

Customers like the smell of the waste bag. They mention that it eliminates smell, doesn't leak, and turns into a gel that somehow gets rid of the smell.

"...starts working immediately and turns into a gel that somehow gets RID OF THE SMELL !..." Read more

"...They did a great job of trapping the smell as well so the car didn't stink ...." Read more

"...have a pad that absorbs the vomit turning it into a gel and it kills the smell ...." Read more

"...these bags were pricey ($20 for 20) they didn’t break, spill, or smell ...." Read more

Customers find the waste bag convenient to keep in car, purse, or pocket. They say it's leak proof and perfect for on the go or in your home. Customers also mention that the bags can be discretely put in the glove box, purse.

"...It is also easy to fold and carry with you . I just ordered a second set of these.I got this to help with Pre-Natal Nausea and sickness...." Read more

"...little to no warning before vomiting, and these cheap, simple bags can be discretely placed within reach in a lot of places." Read more

"...They are also very discreet, like a tiny, thin trash bag, so easy to stash in your car or purse. The drawstring closes tightly just like a trash bag...." Read more

"Description is accurate. They are a great product and can be tucked into a purse or pocket ." Read more

Customers like the size of the waste bag. For example, they mention it's not too big, compact, and discreet. Some say it fits on a small bucket and soaks up the nasty with no issues. That said, they say it'll fit in a seat back pocket and fold up very small.

"...Overall I'm confident these bags will do the job. With their thin profile and low cost per bag, I will not only be using them in the cars, but I..." Read more

"...They are also very discreet, like a tiny, thin trash bag , so easy to stash in your car or purse. The drawstring closes tightly just like a trash bag...." Read more

"...They are a good size; not too big that they are hard to hold but big enough to handle a lot of vomit...." Read more

"...I know where to go! I do wish they were a bit smaller however once we use them I may be very glad they are the size they are." Read more

Customers like the waste bag for its leaking ability. They say it's thick enough not to leak, and it doesn't break or smell. Some say that the waste bags prevent spills by forming a gel.

"...1 1/2 cups of water and 1/2 cup of white vinegar went into the bag. No leaks , but the absorbency was not immediate...." Read more

"...The Good: They did not leak at all , so I was able to stick to the comfort of my bed whilst I puked my guts out, instead of having to kneel over that..." Read more

"...(read: no leaking !)...." Read more

"... No more leaky puke bags !!" Read more

Customers find the waste bag easy to use. They mention it's convenient to use, and makes the experience of chemo a lot easier. Customers also say the bags are simple and easy to store in the back seat or glove box.

"...and than the smell.... THESE bags are great, eliminates smell and it's so easy , my son can now hold it himself, close it, and wait until we are..." Read more

"...Easily visible and accessible should they ever be needed." Read more

"...It was convenient and easy to keep in the car, purse, or on the nightstand. The strings allow for easy tying up...." Read more

" Easy to use , small enough that hardly any space is taken." Read more

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Air travel smells worse than ever. Here's how to fix it.

Air travel stinks.

You don't have to tell that to Danielle Belyeu, who was recently stuck next to a passenger with strong body odor – rotting cheese and onion, as she described it – on a flight from the Caribbean island of Curaçao to Miami. 

"Thank goodness the flight was only a couple of hours," said Belyeu, a travel advisor from Summerville, South Carolina.

Check out   Elliott Confidential , the newsletter the travel industry doesn't want you to read. Each issue is filled with breaking news, deep insights, and exclusive strategies for becoming a better traveler. But don't tell anyone!

Being a travel pro, she came prepared: A lightly scented spray bottle of hand sanitizer held the stench at bay during the flight.

There's a war of scents going on at 36,000 feet, and it's escalating in ways you can't see (but will probably smell). Some passengers are treating personal hygiene as if it's optional. Others are taking matters into their own hands by spraying unapproved scents. Airlines, meanwhile, are maintaining a double standard for smells.

Pay less to fly: New strategies for finding cheap airfares now

What are airline policies for smells?

It turns out airlines have rules about smells, but they're problematic. 

For example: 

  • American Airlines' contract of carriage , the legal agreement between you and the airline, says it can refuse to transport "persons who have an offensive odor such as from a draining wound."
  • Delta Air Lines also reserves the right to refuse transportation "when the passenger’s conduct, attire, hygiene or odor creates an unreasonable risk of offense or annoyance to other passengers."
  • United Airlines has a similar provision , refusing to carry "Passengers who have or cause a malodorous condition."

At the same time, airlines have given themselves a broad license to release their scents on the plane. 

A few years ago, United reportedly began using a proprietary fragrance called Landing (orange peel, bergamot, cypress) in its cabins. Delta Air Lines perfumed its planes with Calm (lavender and chamomile). During the pandemic, airlines sprayed the cabin interiors with chemical cleaners that left some passengers with a headache. And don't even get me started on the lungfuls of jet fuel fumes that sometimes waft through the cabin before takeoff.

Like I said, it's a war of scents up there.

Why airline passengers are holding their noses

Reports of smelly aircraft have been in the news lately. There was that allegedly flatulent passenger on an American Airlines flight from Phoenix to Austin. One witness claimed it became so unbearable that the flight turned around and headed back to the gate to remove the malodorous traveler. 

Last year, two Air Canada passengers were removed from a flight because they reportedly wouldn't sit in vomit-covered seats. The airline later apologized.

Many of the smells come from the cargo hold. One frequent offender is durian fruit, with its distinctive odor of honey, sewage and rotting onion. It has forced several planes to make emergency landings. Many airlines ban durian fruit despite its popularity in Asia.

My worst odor experience happened many years ago when I flew from New York to Vienna on a Soviet-made aircraft operated by the Romanian flag carrier Tarom. 

I was stuck in the back of the plane, and the moment the "no smoking" lights went out, it seemed like every passenger – including the kids – lit up at the same time. But that wasn't the only problem. The bathrooms were directly behind me, and someone had poured a chemical that smelled like cherry and battery acid into the toilets, which started to overflow within an hour of departure.

It was a long flight.

How to fight against the smells without breaking the rules

So what should you do if you encounter a bad smell on a plane? Before you go spraying perfumes and air fresheners – which your airline might not allow – here are a few less invasive strategies.

Say something. Find someone who can help you. A flight attendant might be able to move you to a different seat or, if the flight hasn't left yet, remove the offending smeller. "Politely tell the attendants right away," said Jackson Groves, a frequent air traveler and adventure travel blogger. "Working together, I'm sure they can fix it or make it more bearable." 

Address the problem — politely. If the problem is a person, you may be able to negotiate a truce. "One person’s dream scent is another person’s nightmare," said etiquette expert Nick Leighton. If you see someone spraying cologne on the seat, you may want to remind them that it's polite to remain odor-neutral.

Improvise. That's what Uneaka Daniels, a reading specialist from Bermuda, does when she's sitting next to a passenger with body odor issues. She carries a white scarf with diffusing beads that contain essential oils. Technically, she's not spraying anything. She used that strategy on a recent flight to London. "The guy next to me did not smell pleasant, and it was a six-hour flight," she remembered.

And don't be part of the problem. If you think you might create a smell on the plane, refrain from any activity that might stink the cabin up. That includes eating a big Italian dinner with extra garlic, a Polish sausage, and durian. Definitely, avoid durian. 

"And please do not wear perfume when you know you will board an airplane," added manners expert Adeodata Czink. "It bothers the people seated around you, and they can't leave the plane."

But is there a way to defuse this smell-a-palooza? Maybe.

How to fix the air travel smells

There's a way to call a truce in the odor war on planes, but it will require some leadership from the airline industry. 

It starts with creating a common-sense standard for flights and holding everyone to them. The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety offers some suggestions for creating a scent-free policy.  

That means asking passengers to attend to their personal hygiene and refrain from using perfume and cologne before the flight. An airline might also issue a formal policy limiting scented products on the plane. Things like smelly aftershave, essential oils, lotions and soaps would be verboten.

Most importantly, airlines need to hold themselves to the same standard they set for passengers. In other words, no industrial cleaners in the bathroom and no signature scents called "calm," "happy," or "I want to sign up for your addictive loyalty program."

Scents are a serious problem on planes. Strong body odors can literally make you vomit. Chemicals in scented products can create headaches, nausea, upper respiratory problems, and skin irritation.

It's time for the scent war to end on the plane. Wait until you land to slather on the Chanel Bleu or douse yourself in lavender oil. 

Your fellow passengers thank you in advance – and so do I.

Christopher Elliott  is an author, consumer advocate, and journalist. He founded  Elliott Advocacy , a nonprofit organization that helps solve consumer problems. He publishes  Elliott Confidential , a travel newsletter, and the  Elliott Report , a news site about customer service. If you need help with a consumer problem, you can  reach him here  or email him at  [email protected] .

Air travel smells worse than ever. Here’s how to fix it

Travel troubleshooter.

Air travel stinks.

You don’t have to tell that to Danielle Belyeu, who recently was stuck next to a passenger with a strong body odor on a flight from the Caribbean island of Curaçao to Miami. 

“Thank goodness the flight was only a couple of hours,” says Belyeu, a travel adviser from Summerville, S.C.

Being a travel pro, she came prepared: A lightly scented spray bottle of hand sanitizer held the stench at bay during the flight.

There’s a war of scents going on at 36,000 feet, and it’s escalating in ways you can’t see (but will probably smell). Some passengers are treating personal hygiene as if it’s optional. Others are taking matters into their own hands by spraying unapproved scents. Airlines, meanwhile, are maintaining a double standard for smells.

What are airline policies for smells?

It turns out airlines have rules about smells, but they’re problematic. 

For example: 

  • American Airlines’ contract of carriage , the legal agreement between you and the airline, says it can refuse to transport “persons who have an offensive odor such as from a draining wound.”
  • Delta Air Lines also reserves the right to refuse transportation “when the passenger’s conduct, attire, hygiene or odor creates an unreasonable risk of offense or annoyance to other passengers.”
  • United Airlines has a similar provision , refusing to carry “Passengers who have or cause a malodorous condition.”

At the same time, airlines have given themselves a broad license to release their scents on the plane. 

A few years ago, United reportedly began using a proprietary fragrance called Landing (orange peel, bergamot, cypress) in its cabins. Delta Air Lines perfumed its planes with Calm (lavender and camomile). During the pandemic, airlines sprayed the cabin interiors with chemical cleaners that left some passengers with a headache. And don’t even get me started on the lungfuls of jet fuel fumes that sometimes waft through the cabin before takeoff.

Like I said, it’s a war of scents up there.

Why airline passengers are holding their noses

Reports of smelly aircraft have been in the news lately. There was that flatulent passenger on an American Airlines flight from Phoenix to Austin, Texas. One witness said it became so unbearable that the flight turned around and headed back to the gate to remove the malodorous traveler. 

Last year, two Air Canada passengers were removed from a flight because they reportedly wouldn’t sit in vomit-covered seats. The airline later apologized.

Many of the smells come from the cargo hold. One frequent offender is durian fruit, with its distinctive odor of honey, sewage and rotting onion. It has forced several planes to make emergency landings. Many airlines ban durian fruit despite its popularity in Asia.

My worst odor experience happened many years ago when I flew from New York to Vienna on a Soviet-made aircraft operated by the Romanian flag carrier Tarom. 

I was stuck in the back of the plane, and the moment the “no smoking” lights went out, it seemed like every passenger — including the kids — lit up at the same time. But that wasn’t the only problem. The bathrooms were directly behind me, and someone had poured a chemical that smelled like cherry and battery acid into the toilets, which started to overflow within an hour of departure.

It was a long flight.

How to fight against the smells without breaking the rules

So what should you do if you encounter a bad smell on a plane? Before you go spraying perfumes and air fresheners — which your airline might not allow — here are a few less invasive strategies.

Say something. Find someone who can help you. A flight attendant might be able to move you to a different seat or, if the flight hasn’t left yet, remove the offending smeller. “Politely tell the attendants right away,” says Jackson Groves, a frequent air traveler and adventure travel blogger. “Working together, I’m sure they can fix it or make it more bearable.” 

Address the problem — politely. If the problem is a person, you may be able to negotiate a truce. “One person’s dream scent is another person’s nightmare,” says etiquette expert Nick Leighton. If you see someone spraying cologne on the seat, you may want to remind them that it’s polite to remain odor-neutral.

Improvise. That’s what Uneaka Daniels, a reading specialist from Bermuda, does when she’s sitting next to a passenger with body odor issues. She carries a white scarf with diffusing beads that contain essential oils. Technically, she’s not spraying anything. She used that strategy on a recent flight to London. “The guy next to me did not smell pleasant, and it was a six-hour flight,” she remembers.

And don’t be part of the problem. If you think you might create a smell on the plane, refrain from any activity that might stink the cabin up. That includes eating a big Italian dinner with extra garlic, Polish sausage and durian. Definitely avoid durian. 

“And please do not wear perfume when you know you will board an airplane,” adds manners expert Adeodata Czink. “It bothers the people seated around you, and they can’t leave the plane.”

But is there a way to defuse this smell-a-palooza? Maybe.

How to fix the air travel smells

There’s a way to call a truce in the odor war on planes, but it will require some leadership from the airline industry. 

It starts with creating a commonsense standard for flights and holding everyone to them. The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety offers some suggestions for creating a scent-free policy.  

That means asking passengers to attend to their personal hygiene and refrain from using perfume and cologne before the flight. An airline might also issue a formal policy limiting scented products on the plane. Things like smelly aftershave, essential oils, lotions and soaps would be verboten.

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Most important, airlines need to hold themselves to the same standard they set for passengers. In other words, no industrial cleaners in the bathroom and no signature scents called “calm,” “happy” or “I want to sign up for your addictive loyalty program.”

Scents are a serious problem on planes. Strong body odors can literally make you vomit. Chemicals in scented products can create headaches, nausea, upper respiratory problems, and skin irritation.

It’s time for the scent war to end on the plane. Wait until you land to slather on the Chanel Bleu or douse yourself in lavender oil. 

Your fellow passengers thank you in advance — and so do I.

The opinions expressed in reader comments are those of the author only and do not reflect the opinions of The Seattle Times.

How to escape if your car goes underwater

Exiting the car in the first minute it begins to sink improves your chance of survival.

It’s a nightmare scenario for drivers: Your car leaves the road and plunges into water, transforming your vehicle into a sinking trap.

The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge into the Patapsco River early Tuesday may have stoked fears that you could encounter a similar catastrophe in your own car. Officials with the Baltimore fire department said sonar has detected vehicles submerged in the water, but it was unclear whether anyone was inside.

A distress call from the freighter that crashed into the bridge and caused the collapse gave officials time to halt more vehicle traffic over the bridge, said Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D). As of midday Tuesday, two workers had been rescued from a crew that was repairing potholes on the Key Bridge; six workers were still missing.

In the right conditions, drivers who stay calm have a chance to escape an underwater car. In 2013, a 22-year-old woman from Calvert County, Md., survived after her car went off the side of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and fell 27 feet into the water.

One minute to get out

Thermal physiologist Gordon Giesbrecht, a retired University of Manitoba professor with an expertise in vehicle submersion and hypothermia, said passengers have one minute to rescue themselves from a sinking car. Once the vehicle becomes even partially submerged, the odds of survival are slim.

“A minute is kind of an average number,” Giesbrecht said. “So the windows will certainly work for 60 seconds, but if you know what you’re doing, you can open that window in 10 or 15 seconds.”

He said travelers should memorize the acronym SWOC:

  • Seat belts off.
  • Windows open.
  • Out immediately.
  • Children first.

“A lot of people think you should open the doors, which you shouldn’t,” Giesbrecht said. “The car is just going deeper and deeper, and once the water gets up against the window, then you won’t even be able to open the window. So you’ve got to get that window open as soon as you can.”

Giesbrecht said electric windows should still operate within a minute “because your ignition was on.”

When helping children, push the oldest out first so you can help the youngest passengers. Giesbrecht said it is easier to push than pull passengers out, so remain in the car until your dependents have safely evacuated.

Cars in deep water typically sink nose first, so you can buy a few more seconds by exiting out a back window. If there’s a release button in the front seat for a rear hatch, then you can escape through the back, but don’t waste time trying to locate it.

Once the car begins to sink nose down, the passengers will start to run out of air. Any air bubbles will escape out the back. In shallower water, a car might descend horizontally, so passengers could sustain themselves on a trapped air pocket, but Giesbrecht said this scenario is “very rare.”

Tools don’t work on laminated glass

According to Giesbrecht, smashing a car window is not feasible. Cars that have laminated windows instead of tempered glass are resistant to hard force; not one of the six tools tested in a AAA study were able to break through. A label on the bottom corner of a side window will identify tempered or laminated glass, but that helps only if you have it memorized.

Giesbrecht said that, when you have only a minute to save yourself, it’s not worth the time to search for an instrument.

“Very few people could ever break a window in the first place,” he said. “Once the physics of the water changes, you can’t break the window anyway, even if you had a hammer.”

Once you’re in the water, Giesbrecht said, you need to control your breath, assess your surroundings and climb onto or cling to the vehicle while it is afloat.

“You can hang on to the vehicle as long as you can,” he said, “or until you determine the closest or easiest place you can get to.”

Hypothermia is not an immediate problem, Giesbrecht said, because it takes an hour for someone to become cold enough for the heart to stop. However, drowning is a real concern, especially if you panic or go into shock after plunging into the water.

“The first thing that will happen when you’re in cold water is a cold shock response, which is gasping and hyperventilating or heavy breathing,” he said. The cold could incapacitate your muscles and nerves, and you could lose your ability to swim.

“We have the 1-10-1 principle,” Giesbrecht added. “You have one minute to get your breathing under control. Ten minutes of meaningful movement. And about an hour before you become unconscious due to hypothermia.”

Make yourself visible

Andy Blair, director of the National Outdoor Leadership School Teton Valley, offered several survival tips for after you have escaped the car and are in the water. He said to keep your shoes on. They can be helpful when swimming in open water and scrambling on rocks or other sharp terrain.

“If they’re really big, heavy boots, they might be more of an impediment,” he said, “but once you get to shore, you’re going to want to have some shoes on.”

Blair said wearing street clothes in cold water that is moving downstream and not having a flotation device is “probably one of your worst-case situations.” However, he recommends securing any loose garments that could snag in the water. He said more form-fitting clothes will reduce your surface area and your exposure to the water.

If swimming to shore is not an option because of the distance or your stamina level, grab a piece of buoyant debris or hoist yourself up on a larger object if you can. Also, hold up an eye-catching item that could attract the attention of a search-and-rescue crew or a bystander.

“For the average person in that situation, their best bet is to find something they can stay afloat with and make themselves as visible as possible,” he said.

Baltimore bridge collapse

Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed after being hit by a cargo ship , sending at least eight people from a construction crew into the water. Two people were rescued and the remaining six are presumed dead, officials said. Follow live updates and see photos from the scene .

How it happened: The container ship lost power moments before hitting the bridge, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) said. Video shows the bridge collapse in under 40 seconds.

Victims: The six construction workers who were on the bridge at the time of the crash are presumed dead, the U.S. Coast Guard said. They were fathers, husbands and hard workers . The entire crew aboard the container ship Dali survived . First responders shut down most traffic on the four-lane bridge after the crew issued an urgent “mayday.” It saved lives, Moore said.

Economic impact: The collapse of the bridge, which severed ocean links to the Port of Baltimore, adds a fresh headache to already struggling global supply chains . See how the collapse will disrupt the supply of cars, coal and other goods .

History: The Key Bridge was built in the 1970s and spanned the Patapsco River. Rebuilding the bridge will probably take years and cost hundreds of millions of dollars, experts said.

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travel car vomit

Car hire at Moscow Vnukovo Airport

Search hundreds of travel sites at once for car hire deals at moscow vnukovo airport (vko).

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Cheap car hire at Moscow Vnukovo airport

Top tips for hiring a car at moscow vnukovo airport.

  • Whether you’re visiting Moscow for a week or a month, getting a car rental at Moscow Vnukovo Airport (VKO) is the best way to explore the Russian capital. You’ll traverse various parts of the city that aren’t fully accessible by public transport. Self-driving lets you choose the shortest route to your destination and avoid traffic. Renting a car will save you money compared to using a taxi when you look at the overall costs to multiple destinations.
  • Collecting your rental car at Moscow Vnukovo Airport isn’t that complicated. You’ll find several local and international car rental suppliers at the airport with an on-site counter. Car rental desks at VKO are on the ground level in the Arrivals section, Terminal A. Once you get to the airport, head straight to your preferred company’s rental desk. You can also visit the rental desks after booking online. Make sure you carry all the requested documents. After processing, a staff member from the rental company will guide you to the pick-up point outside the terminal. Take your time to inspect the car for any dents or damages. Check the fuel level and make sure your maps are working and in your preferred language since most road signs in Moscow are in Russian.
  • The other benefit of getting a car rental at Moscow Vnukovo Airport is that you’ll have a smooth return process. Most rental companies will ask you to return the rental car to the exact location you collected it, or the drop-off point stated in your rental contract. What you should pay attention to is the return period. Make sure you return the car on time to avoid the late return penalty fee. You can inform the company early if you’re facing challenges and can’t return the rental car on time. After dropping off the vehicle, conduct a final inspection to check for damages before heading to your rental counter for clearance.
  • Moscow Vnukovo Airport usually gets busy between March to July when most tourists visit for the summer holidays. During this period, car rental bookings are generally high. You can experience long waits at the car rental counter. The airport also gets busy during weekends, special events, holidays, and major conferences in Moscow. We advise you to book in advance for availability and to save money since rates are comparatively pricey during the peak travel season.
  • Book your car hire at Moscow Vnukovo airport at least 4 weeks before your trip in order to get a below-average price

FAQs about hiring a car at Moscow Vnukovo airport

What documents do i need to rent a car at moscow vnukovo airport.

To rent a car at Moscow Vnukovo Airport, you will need a valid driver’s license from your home country that has been valid for at least one year. You should provide an International Driving Permit for translation purposes. Most companies will also require your passport for additional proof of identity. A valid credit card with enough cash for deposit and payment must also be presented. Some companies will ask you to bring a printout of the booking confirmation voucher sent to your mail.

What amenities are available at Moscow Vnukovo Airport?

You’ll have access to several amenities when you opt for a car rental at Moscow Vnukovo Airport, including showers in various lounges, ATMs, luggage carts, and free Wi-Fi. If you’re traveling with children, you can take advantage of the children’s playroom in Terminal A. There is a parenting room equipped with changing tables, baby cribs, and play areas for parents traveling with newborns. VKO is perfectly equipped for passengers with reduced mobility.

How can I pay for my Moscow Vnukovo Airport car rental?

The best way to pay for your Moscow Vnukovo Airport car rental is using a major credit card. It is a secure option for renters and the best security for rental companies during your rental period. Few car rental suppliers may let you pay using a debit card but with several limitations and requirements. They will restrict you to certain types of rental cars, and you may be asked to produce additional proof of identity or your return travel details.

Which car hire companies will pick you up at Moscow Vnukovo airport?

Car hire companies that offer shuttle or pick-up services from Moscow Vnukovo airport to off-airport locations include Avis, Rentmotors, Sixt, and TIS Car.

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A former cabbie on why Sam Kerr’s alleged vomiting is not to be trivialised

'I speak from experience. Not as the vomiter, I hasten to add, but as a vomitee.'

Steve Cornelius

Mar 26, 2024

British London taxis and the Matildas' Sam Kerr (Images: AAP/Adobe)

Earlier this month  Crikey  contributor Michael Bradley  penned a piece  after star Matildas footballer Sam Kerr allegedly vomited in a taxi and was involved in a dispute about the fare. Crikey reader and former taxi driver Steve Cornelius got in touch to offer his two cents. Here is his response. 

Sam Kerr’s act of “chucking her guts up” in a taxi should not be trivialised.

From 1978 to 1991, I was a Sydney taxi driver — full-time for several years at first, and subsequently as a weekend part-timer to supplement the family income. Largely my experiences as a cabbie were interesting, at times pleasurable, and often simply mundane. Inevitably, however, there were several incidents which were distinctly unpleasant, and which stick in the memory to this day — occasional verbal abuse, minor assaults, actual and attempted fare evasions, and, yes, in-cab chunders (two of them).

Next time you have an upset stomach or have imbibed some quantity of intoxicant, I suggest you conduct the following experiment:

  • Go to your car;
  • Don’t attempt to drive it, please;
  • Instead, sit in the back seat;
  • Then CHUNDER, as copiously as you can (fingers down the throat is a good method of vomit inducement if need be);
  • Ensure your vomit hits (at least) the seat and the floor (bonus points for hitting any part of the driver’s area and front-passenger area);
  • If anyone has accompanied you to the car, make sure you hit them too;
  • Now, clean up the mess.

Take special note of:

  • The cleaning materials and implements required;
  • The total cost of the clean-up;
  • The time taken;
  • The amount of time before the stink eventually goes away.

That should do it nicely. Be sure to let me know how you go.

For the cabbie, it’s up there in the “C-Range” (C for catastrophic). First, they have to clean the stinking cab up. This effectively means taking it to a car wash so that professional cleaners can do it properly, using disinfectants, fragrant sprays and driers, and long-lasting, nice-smelling stuff. That takes time to find, especially late at night, and costs a motza.

Just as significantly, it robs them of working time, which destroys a day’s pay. A disaster, whichever way you look at it.

To spice up the experiment I outlined above, try supercharging your big chunder by holding one hand over your mouth at the moment of discharge. That way, streams of vomit will quite likely force their way between your fingers and spray rapidly in several directions.

I speak from experience. Not as the vomiter, I hasten to add, but as a vomitee. I’ve seen this done many years ago in a friend’s car on the way home after a big night on the turps (coincidentally, in England). One of the back-seat passengers managed to hit all four other occupants including the driver, every seat including the driver’s, and every window except the rear one behind him.

To assure you of my bonafides, if (from the back seat) you manage to hit the inside of the front windscreen and send me a photo of it, I’ll buy you a Mars Bar.

About the Author

Steve Cornelius — Contributor

Contributor

Steve Cornelius is a Crikey reader.

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Ozempic made me vomit five times a day, says Stephen Fry

Celebrities including Oprah Winfrey, Elon Musk and Jeremy Clarkson have praised the weight-loss drug

Stephen Fry described himself as an 'early adopter' of weight-loss drugs

Stephen Fry has said he used to vomit up to five times a day while taking the weight-loss drug Ozempic .

Celebrities including Oprah Winfrey, Elon Musk and Jeremy Clarkson have praised Ozempic after its slimming effects were first published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2021.

Fry, describing himself as an “early adopter” of such drugs, said the jab was “brilliant” to begin with but that this did not last long.

He told Ruthie’s Table 4 podcast: “And then I started feeling sick, and I started feeling sicker and sicker and I was literally throwing up four, five times a day.

“I thought ‘I can’t do this’, so that’s it.

“The new variant [Tirzepatide] – sold under the brand name Mounjaro – makes it even worse, apparently.”

Ozempic, which is administered via a weekly injection to manage blood glucose levels, can only be prescribed by the NHS for Type 2 diabetes.

However, it is possible to obtain an off-label prescription for Ozempic for weight management through a healthcare professional such as a GP or pharmacist.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has strongly discouraged such off-label prescription, which is legal and done at the discretion of the prescriber.

“The guidance is clear that these medicines should only be prescribed for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes , in order to protect supply for diabetes patients,” it said.

Clinical implications

It warned shortages of such drugs can have serious clinical implications for patients with Type 2 diabetes, and has told doctors not to start new patients on drugs such as Ozempic.

Dr Unnitai Desai, the national GP lead for Nuffield Health, said the most common side effects noted by patients were gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, acid reflux and abdominal pain.

“These may settle if the dose is decreased but it is also possible that the medication needs to be ceased altogether,” she said.

A study last month suggested that such weight-loss jabs could be a more effective and cheaper treatment for drug addiction than rehab.

Wegovy, the brand name for semaglutide when used to treat obesity, and similar drugs are known as GLP-1 agonists and trigger feelings of satiety and satisfaction.

While increasingly used as a weight-loss tool, scientists are also looking at them as a route to combat forms of addiction.

In the study, opiate addicts given liraglutide – which works in the same way as Wegovy but must be taken more frequently and is cheaper – reported 40 per cent fewer cravings to get high when compared to a control group.

Scientists said the reduction in urges while using liraglutide, marketed as Saxenda for weight loss, was seen almost immediately.

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Bridgewater special needs teacher charged with abusing three preschoolers at elementary school

A special needs teacher in Bridgewater was charged Tuesday with allegedly assaulting three preschoolers in her care, according to the Plymouth district attorney’s office.

Kathryn A. Rousseau, 56, pleaded not guilty to three counts of assault and battery on a person with intellectual disabilities during her arraignment in Brockton District Court, prosecutors said in a statement.

Rousseau, who was arrested Tuesday at her Taunton home, was released on personal recognizance. She was ordered to stay away from the Mitchell Elementary School, and to not contact the children or their families, the statement said.

It was not known Tuesday evening if Rousseau had a lawyer representing her, according to online court records. Her next court date is May 14.

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Rousseau is listed on the Mitchell school’s website as a preschool special needs teacher. She is currently on leave from her job, prosecutors said.

On March 14, a parent of one of the four-year-old victims contacted Bridgewater police to report that a staffer at the school informed them that they had filed a report with the state Department of Children and Families alleging physical abuse of their child by Rousseau, according to the statement.

The report claimed Rousseau “left a mark, or cut, on the child’s lip” after grabbing the child’s mouth, prosecutors said.

Bridgewater police opened an investigation. Rousseau allegedly grabbed the mouth of one child, and force fed another, causing them to vomit, the statement said.

“Rousseau, who sent daily updates home to parents about student behavior and progress in class, informed parents that the marks on their children were self-inflicted. The incidents were witnessed by other staffers at the school,” the statement said.

The investigation is ongoing.

Zenobia Pellissier Lloyd can be reached at [email protected] .

IMAGES

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  2. How to Clean Vomit From Car? Very Easy Method

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  3. How To Get Rid Of Vomit Smell In Car: How To Guide Car Addict

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  4. How to Clean Vomit From Car? Very Easy Method

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  5. How to Clean Vomit and Vomit Smell From Your Car Effortlessly

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  6. How To Clean Vomit From A Car Seat

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  1. Detailing a car with vomit‼️ #detailing #detailingworld #foryou #mobiledetailing

  2. How to Avoid Vomiting During Traveling

  3. பயணத்தின் போது வாந்தி எடுப்பதை தடுப்பது எப்படி? How to prevent vomiting while travelling?

COMMENTS

  1. Motion sickness (travel sickness): Causes, remedies, and symptoms

    Scopolamine - the most commonly prescribed medication for motion sickness. It must be taken before symptoms start. It is available as a patch that is placed behind the ear 6-8 hours before ...

  2. Motion Sickness: Symptoms & Treatment

    Motion sickness occurs when your brain can't make sense of information sent from your eyes, ears and body. Lots of motion — in a car, airplane, boat, or even an amusement park ride — can make you feel queasy, clammy or sick to your stomach. Some people vomit. Being carsick, seasick or airsick is motion sickness. Advertisement.

  3. Motion Sickness: Surprising Causes and Symptoms

    Motion sickness ( kinetosis ) causes symptoms that include dizziness, nausea, and headache. It occurs when you're moving (in a car, for example) and your brain receives mixed signals from your body, inner ear, and eyes about its surroundings. For instance, if you're below deck on a boat, your inner ear may sense rolling waves but your eyes don ...

  4. Motion Sickness

    Motion Sickness. Motion sickness happens when the movement you see is different from what your inner ear senses. This can cause dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. You can get motion sick in a car, or on a train, airplane, boat, or amusement park ride. Motion sickness can make traveling unpleasant, but there are strategies to prevent and treat it.

  5. Motion Sickness: Best Fixes If Traveling Makes You Ill

    While traveling, eat dry crackers and avoid cigarette smoke. If your child gets motion sickness, be sure to keep plastic bags handy in case they throw up. If they're over 12 years old, have them ...

  6. Motion Sickness

    Motion sickness is a sick feeling triggered by movement. It occurs in cars, buses, trains, planes, or boats. It can occur on amusement rides or virtual reality experiences. Seeing the movement of others or things can trigger it. This condition is not life-threatening, however, it can make traveling unpleasant.

  7. Motion sickness: How to prevent vomiting while travelling?

    Listen to music. Listening to music can be soothing, calm you down, and help you overcome nausea by distracting you. Go for any music of your choice. 7. Chew on basil leaves while traveling. Doing so will help you tackle symptoms of motion sickness like nausea and vomiting.

  8. Car sickness in children: Can I prevent it?

    Don't give your child a large meal immediately before or during car travel. If the trip will be long or your child needs to eat, give him or her a small, bland snack — such as dry crackers and a small drink — before it's time to go. Provide air ventilation. Adequate air ventilation might help prevent car sickness. Offer distractions.

  9. 3 Ways to Avoid Car Sickness

    Ginger has been shown to help mitigate car sickness and other forms of motion sickness. You can eat (or drink) ginger in many different forms. There are ginger lollipops, ginger lozenges, ginger teas, ginger sodas, ginger pills, candied ginger, and ginger cookies. [9] Any of these will help settle your stomach.

  10. 11 Ways to Deal With Car Sickness

    Get out and stretch your legs if you're feeling queasy. If you often get car sickness, give yourself extra travel time so you can stop whenever you need to. Pull off to a safe place and walk around for a few minutes. This can help you settle your stomach and clear your head so you're ready to travel again. [2]

  11. Motion sickness

    Motion sickness is caused by repeated movements when travelling, like going over bumps in a car or moving up and down in a boat, plane or train. The inner ear sends different signals to your brain from those your eyes are seeing. These confusing messages cause you to feel unwell. Find out more about motion sickness, an unpleasant combination of ...

  12. How to Treat Motion Sickness in Kids

    Traveling Without Vomit: How to treat motion sickness in kids Nothing makes travel miserable like a vomiting child, but the good news is that even the worst motion sickness is treatable. If your child is car sick, air sick, or sea sick, the right drugs combined with tried-and-true home remedies can stop the nauseated misery and help your whole ...

  13. How to Prevent Car Sickness in Children

    Stop the car. Allowing a car sick child a few minutes to stretch out on his back, eyes closed, when the car is stopped may help alleviate symptoms. Have a cool cloth on hand to place over his forehead. Pack a hazmat kit of Ziploc bags, wipes, spare clothing, an air freshener, and a washcloth and water to make a compress.

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  15. Travel Sickness in Dogs

    Anti-nausea drugs. In case all else fails, you can try giving your pet some over-the-counter medications that are designed to alleviate symptoms of canine car sickness. However, you shouldn't give any drugs to your pooch unless a vet approved it. If your dog has travel sickness, don't despair. A few simple steps or modification to your ...

  16. The Car Seat LadyMotion Sickness

    Therefore we suggest trying to travel during naptime or bedtime. ... Because cleaning vomit out of car seats - particularly the straps - is a parenting nightmare, we suggest having your prone-to-puking child wear a bib/smock OVER the straps to keep the car seat and themselves nice and clean should the grossness happen. AFTER your child is ...

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