If commercial rehydration drinks are unavailable, the following drinks may be used. Be exact in your measurements.
FLUID REPLACEMENT DURING AND AFTER DIARRHEA AND/OR VOMITING
- Infants – breast milk
- Infants and children under 12 years – rice cereal formula
- Children over 12 and adults – homemade oral rehydration therapy (ORT) or oral rehydration solution (ORS)
Rice Cereal Formula
1 quart water
1 cup baby rice cereal
1/2 level teaspoon salt
Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT) (substitute for Pedialyte, Lytren, or Resol)
1 quart water
1 scant teaspoon lite salt
10 teaspoons sugar (3-1/3 tablespoons)
1/3 teaspoon baking soda
Small amount of flavored sugar-free gelatin for flavor (optional)
Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS)
1 quart water
1 level teaspoon salt
8 level teaspoons sugar (or molasses or raw sugar)
Small amount of flavored sugar-free gelatin for flavor (optional)
FLUID REPLACEMENT DURING AND AFTER HEAVY SWEATING
Homemade Sports Drink
1 envelope unsweetened powdered drink mix
5/8 cup sugar
3/4 teaspoon lite salt (or 1/2 teaspoon salt + 1/2 teaspoon lite salt for less potassium)
2 quarts water
References: American Family Physician journal; Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine; Rehydration Project; Cycling Performance Tips; Kaiser Permanente