table salt (such as Kosher salt, iodized salt or sea salt) clean water granulated or powdered sugar
If you don’t have a teaspoon to measure, you can use a fistful scoop of sugar and a three-finger pinch of salt. But, this is not accurate and is not recommended. [3] X Research source Wilcox WD, Miller JJ. The inaccuracy of three-finger pinch method of determining salt content in homemade sugar-salt solutions. Wilderness Environ Med, 1996;7(2):122-126.
Be sure to only use water. Milk, soup, fruit juice or soft drinks cannot be used since they will make the ORS ineffective. [4] X Research source te Loo DM, van der Graaf F, Ten WT. The effect of flavoring oral rehydration solution on its composition and palatability. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr, 2004;39(5):545-548. Don’t add any extra sugar.
ORS solution can be refrigerated for 24 hours. Do not store it any longer.
Left untreated, dehydration can become severe. Severe dehydration symptoms include: very dry mouth and skin, very dark yellow or brown urine, loss of skin elasticity, lowered pulse rate, sunken eyes, seizure, generalized body weakness, and even coma. If you or the person you’re caring for show severe dehydration symptoms, get emergency help.
Severe dehydration will require hospitalization and intravenous fluid administration. But, if caught early, ORS drinks can be prepared at home to treat mild dehydration.
Babies and toddlers: 0. 5 liter of ORS drink every 24 hours Children (2 to 9 years old): 1 liter of ORS drink every 24 hours Children (more than 10 years old) and adults: 3 liters (0. 79 US gal) of ORS drink every 24 hours
presence of blood in diarrhea or black, tarry stools persistent vomiting high fever very dehydrated (feeling dizzy, lethargic, sunken eyes, no urination in the past 12 hours)
