Being sick on a bus: what to do when it cannot stop
A bus will not pull over for you. That one fact changes the plan: you prepare before you board, you pick the seat, and you act on the first signal instead of hoping it passes. If it is already happening, there is a way to do it that keeps the mess and the embarrassment small.
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Why this happens on a bus
Buses stack the odds badly. The seats sit high on a long body, so the back rolls and pitches more than any car. Most seats look at the seat in front rather than out at the road. Windows often do not open, the aisle sways, and the driver stops where the timetable says rather than where you need. On a long distance coach the toilet is usually at the very back, which is the part that moves most.
What to do right now
- 1
Get a bag out. Failing that, a hood, a hat or a carrier bag beats the floor.
- 2
Do not walk to the toilet at the back while it is happening. That is the part that swings most, and standing makes it worse.
- 3
Tell whoever is next to you and ask them to raise the blind or open a vent.
- 4
Look out of a side window at the far distance, not at the seats in front.
- 5
Ask the driver for the next stop if you are on a local service. Two minutes of still ground resets more than an hour of enduring.
- 6
Rinse your mouth, sip water in small amounts, and stay in your seat with your head back until you arrive.
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Preventing it next time
- Sit as far forward as you can, with a view through the windscreen. The back row is the worst seat on any bus.
- Take a window seat and keep a vent aimed at your face.
- Eat something light before you board, and never travel on an empty stomach on a long route.
- Keep the phone in your pocket for the winding sections, and start a Dizzout session through any headphones at the first signal. It is drug free and runs about 90 seconds.
When to see a doctor
Being sick on a bus and feeling fine once you are off it is ordinary travel sickness. See a doctor if it happens on every journey and is getting worse, if you feel sick without travelling, if there is spinning vertigo or a change in your hearing with it, or if a child cannot keep fluids down afterwards.
Common questions
Where is the best place to sit on a bus if I get sick?
Forward, by a window, with a view through the windscreen if you can get one. A bus pivots around its axles, so the rear overhang travels furthest and the back row is where most people get caught. On a double decker, downstairs and forward beats anything upstairs.
How do I stop myself being sick on a coach with no stops?
Act on the first signal rather than the last. Air on your face, eyes on the far road through a side or front window, head back and still, nothing to read. Small sips of water, something plain to eat, and drug free sound therapy through headphones. All of it works better before nausea peaks.
Why is a bus worse than a car for me?
You sit higher, further from the pivot point, and usually facing a seat back rather than the road. A car also lets you take the front seat and open a window. A bus removes nearly every fix at once, which is why seat choice and early action matter more.
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Medically informational; not a substitute for a doctor's advice. Persistent or unusual symptoms deserve a clinical evaluation.