Throwing up in the car: what to do right now

Once vomiting starts, prevention advice is useless. What matters is the next few minutes: stopping safely, clearing the mess, and heading off the second round, because car sickness usually comes in waves. Being sick empties the stomach and buys a short break. The mismatch that caused it is still there when the car moves again.

Why this happens in the car

A car is a bad place to be sick and an easy one to fix. You cannot lie down, the motion carries on while you recover, and the smell of the first episode is a reliable trigger for the second. Children are hit hardest: they sit lower, see less of the road, and rarely say anything until it is too late. The advantage a car has over a boat or a plane is that it can stop, and five minutes on solid ground resets almost everything.

What to do right now

1. 1

   Pull over as soon as it is safe. Standing still ends the motion signal that caused it.

2. 2

   Get out of the car, or open the door and face the fresh air.

3. 3

   Rinse the mouth and take small sips of water. Gulping a full glass usually brings the next round on faster.

4. 4

   Clear up and air the car out before you set off. The smell alone can start the next episode.

5. 5

   Change the seat before you drive on: front seat for whoever is worst affected, and raise a child's booster so they can see out of the windscreen.

6. 6

   Wait ten minutes if you can. Setting off the moment it stops usually buys you one mile.

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Preventing it next time

• Keep sealable bags, wipes and water in the door pocket, so a bad moment stays a small one.
• Eat something light before the drive. An empty stomach and a heavy meal both make vomiting more likely.
• Put screens away for the winding sections and give the front seat to the person who suffers most.
• Start a Dizzout session through any headphones at the first queasy signal, well before this stage. It is drug free and runs about 90 seconds.

When to see a doctor

One episode tied to a journey, ending when the journey ends, is ordinary car sickness. Get medical advice if vomiting carries on once you have stopped travelling, if you cannot keep fluids down for several hours, or if a child is drowsy, has a dry mouth and is passing much less urine than usual. Those are signs of dehydration and they need attention rather than another go at the motorway.

Common questions

Medically informational; not a substitute for a doctor's advice. Persistent or unusual symptoms deserve a clinical evaluation.