Any tips for students with Motion SIckness?

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Specializes in pediatrics, school nursing.

I have a student who at least 2x per month shows up pale as a ghost and nauseous from motion sickness on the bus. We have determined that this most often happens when he doesn't eat breakfast at home. He qualifies for free breakfast at school, which he normally participates in. When he gets this way, he comes to my office, rests for a bit, then goes and gets his breakfast and eats in my office before returning to class. He's only ever *actually* vomited once. He had actually eaten breakfast at home and I'm not convinced that he wasn't sick with a GI bug that time anyway. Another time, he got off the bus and went to get breakfast, ate it super fast, and he felt very nauseous where he ran to the bathroom, but never actually puked.

Does anyone have any experience with this and any tips for preventing the motion sickness in the first place that I could share with his Mom?

1 Votes

Sea Bands.

https://www.sea-band.com/

4 Votes

Poor kid. I have suffered my entire life (and still do) from motion sickness. I would recommend also making sure he sits in the front of the bus, stays seated (not turning backwards to talk to others, etc.), and maybe mom can have him drink a small cup of juice before he leaves the house- just a couple ounces of something like white grape juice or something so his stomach is totally empty.

2 Votes
Specializes in pediatrics, school nursing.
19 minutes ago, Wuzzie said:

Sea Bands.

https://www.sea-band.com/

OOh, just accupressure in general... I'm going to try that with him next time. I am not sure the family is with it enough to buy and remember to put on the bands every morning. Maybe I'll get some to keep in my office!

8 minutes ago, MHDNURSE said:

Poor kid. I have suffered my entire life (and still do) from motion sickness. I would recommend also making sure he sits in the front of the bus, stays seated (not turning backwards to talk to others, etc.), and maybe mom can have him drink a small cup of juice before he leaves the house- just a couple ounces of something like white grape juice or something so his stomach is totally empty.

I'm so sorry!! Definitely going to try and talk to him about these things, but he has an autism spectrum disorder as well, and he has trouble following directions unless there is direct supervision. There is assigned seating on the bus and he does sit near the front, so that's already taken care of... all great tips, though! Thanks!

0 Votes
Specializes in School Nursing, Pediatrics.

I second the sea bands! My son and I as well both get awful motion sickness! (I cant even look at my phone as a passenger in a car!).

The sea bands are pretty cheap (less than $10) and they can get wet.

Also suggest maybe he have a few saltines before getting on the bus, and sit in the front for sure, and only look straight ahead (like someone suggested!). Also, if the window can be open a bit on the bus to give some air, that could help too.

0 Votes
Specializes in ICU, ER, Home Health, Corrections, School Nurse.

The nausea is caused by conflicting signals to the eyes, and inner ear. Easiest fix is just close your eyes. But you have to do it BEFORE the nausea starts.

0 Votes
Specializes in School health, Maternal-Newborn.

I would make arrangements for the student to sit at the front, on the door side of the bus. First this gets him where he can see out the windshield, second, it gets him a breath of fresh air each time a student is picked up. While I agree with "nursy" that it's a disagreement between the eyes and the ears, once the feeling starts it's tough to get rid of by just closing the eyes. I suffer too, and not letting it start is the best way to deal. plus, closed eyes might cause other students to see what sort of mischief they can inflict on him. That aggravation he does NOT need!

1 Votes
Specializes in pediatrics, school nursing.

Yeah, unfortunately I think he already sits in the front due to age; He has ASD and following directions and remembering/implementing strategies like that are not in the cards for him at this point. He actually vomited on the bus one day last week (had had breakfast at home, surprisingly) and his dad just so happened to stop by to drop off his snow pants, so I was able to recommend the SeaBand and he seemed on board, so fingers crossed that is a follow through that actually happens and that it works! It sounds like its a problem in cars as well, so maybe they'll try it and see how well it works and keep it as a strategy ? Thanks for all the suggestions!

1 Votes
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