Enhancing Warfighter Performance!

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Motion Sickness:When Might You Get It?

• Air travel• Sea travel

• Vehicle travel

Anyone Can Get Motion SicknessIf the Stimulus Gets Bad Enough

• Physiological Response

• Operational Considerations

• Unpredictable environmental conditions

• Once you get sick, it’s too late

What Causes It?

• Sensory Conflict/Neural Mismatch• Eyes and ears disagree• Anticipation of orientation key

Motion Sickness Progression

Lethargy

Apathy

Stomach awareness

Nausea

Pallor

Cold sweat

Retch

Vomit

Prostrate

First you worry you’ll die…then you worry you won't!

• WWI troop transportation• Invasion of Normandy• Raid on Entebbe

Operational Impact

Non-Pharmacological StrategiesTo Improve Your Odds

• Be rested• Food in stomach• Avoid greasy, spicy, acidic food• Stay hydrated

These will improve your odds, but may not be good enough!

Operational AvoidanceStrategies

• Find open air• Look at the horizon• Center of boat calmest• Don’t lay down• Stay cool• Avoid fumes• Avoid others getting sick

Again..these may not be enough!

Pharmacological Prevention

• Scopolamine Transdermal Patch• Antihistamines

• Meclizine (Dramamine)• Diphenhyrdramine (Benadryl)

• Promethazine (Phenergan)• Drowsy• Add caffeine

Pharmacological Treatment

• Phenergan (50mg IM) + stimulant

• Zofran for vomiting

Summary!

• Be Proactive: Mission planning should consider motion sickness.

• Consider treatment before the mission.

• Once you are sick, it may be too late!

• Don’t let your teammate suffer for days!

For More Information

• SOCAMRS