REHYDRATION DRINKS

If commercial rehydration drinks are unavailable the following drinks may be used:

FOR 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)
 

FOR FLUID REPLACEMENT DURING AND AFTER HEAVY SWEATING – homemade sports drink

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 http://www.oism.org; Rehydration Project http://rehydrate.org; Cycling Performance Tips http://www.cptips.com/index.htm; Kaiser Permanente http://www.permanente.net