Prevent Sea sickness
How to Prevent Seasickness.
Seasickness is not fatal, but with symptoms such as nausea, stomach cramps and vomiting. It can certainly put a damper on your fishing charter fun. Motion sickness is thought to be caused by the visual disorientation resulting from being on an object in motion (boat) competing against our body’s natural inclination for balance. Whatever the technical cause, a fair percentage of our fishing charter clientele become familiar with how rough, rocking seas can leave us feeling less than ordinary.
Sea sickness however, is not caused by choppy waters alone. Scientific studies have shown that some people can become seasick just by suggestion. They simply convince themselves that being on a rocking boat will make them feel ill and vomit. On the other hand, for those who can put it to the back of their minds and forget about it, it’s usually smooth sailing.
Some people have a genuine proclivity for motion sickness and will undoubtedly suffer more during rough seas. If you have a propensity to motion sickness or are concerned that you might develop symptoms, arm yourself with the following preventive measures beforehand.
Top Ten tips to prevent seasickness.
While it may be impossible to prevent all cases of motion sickness. The following tips can assist you to prevent and lessen the severity of motion sickness:
1. Watch your consumption of foods, drinks, and alcohol before boarding. Avoid excessive alcohol and foods or liquids that “do not agree with you” or make you feel unusually full. Heavy, spicy, or fat-rich foods may cause motion sickness in some people.
2. Avoiding strong food odours may also help prevent nausea.
3. Try to choose a seat where you will experience the least motion. On a boat, the best place is as close to the stern as you can get. Do not sit facing backwards from your direction of travel.
4. Do not read while traveling if you are prone to motion sickness.
5. When traveling by car or boat, it can sometimes help to keep your gaze fixed on the horizon or on a fixed point.
6. Open a vent or source of fresh air if possible.
7. Isolate yourself from others who may be suffering from motion sickness. Hearing others talk about motion sickness or seeing others becoming ill can sometimes make you feel ill yourself.
8. Over-the-counter medications can be a very effective preventive measure for short trips or for mild cases of motion sickness. Your doctor also may choose to prescribe medications for longer trips or if you repeatedly develop severe motion sickness. One example of a prescription medication is a patch containing scopolamine (Transderm-Scop) that often is effective in preventing motion sickness. Remember that scopolamine can cause drowsiness and has other side effects, and its use should be discussed with your physician prior to your trip.
9. Prevention is better than cure, we advise you to take one tablet the night before and one approximately an hour before boarding the vessel.
10. If you feel really ill, most people usually find they feel better after they have vomited, sometimes it’s better to get it out.
