Sanitation and Cleanliness for a Healthy Environment 11
To stop dehydration
When a child has watery diarrhea or diarrhea and vomiting, do not wait for signs of
dehydration. Act quickly.
Give lots of liquids to drink, such as a thin cereal porridge or gruel, soup, water, or
rehydration drink (see below).
Keep giving food. As soon as the sick child (or adult) can eat food, give frequent
feedings of foods he likes. To babies, keep giving breast milk often – and before other
drinks.
Rehydration drink helps to prevent or to treat dehydration. It does not cure
diarrhea, but may give enough time for the diarrhea to cure itself.
Rehydration drink
Below are two ways of making rehydration drink. If you can, add half a cup of fruit juice,
coconut water, or mashed ripe banana to either drink. These contain potassium, a mineral
which helps a sick person accept more food and drink.
Give the child sips of this drink every 5 minutes, day and night, until he begins to urinate
normally. A large person needs 3 or more liters a day. A small child usually needs at least
1 liter a day, or 1 glass for each watery stool. Keep giving the drink often, and in small sips.
Even if the person vomits, not all of the drink will be vomited.
Made with powdered cereal and salt.
(Powdered rice is best. But you can use finely
ground maize, wheat flour, sorghum, or cooked
and mashed potatoes.)
In 1 liter of clean WATER put
half of a level teaspoon of SALT,
and 8 heaping teaspoons of
powdered CEREAL.
Made with sugar and salt.
(You can use raw, brown sugar or molasses
instead of white sugar.)
In 1 liter of clean WATER put
half of a level teaspoon of SALT,
and 8 level teaspoons
of SUGAR. Mix well.
Boil for 5 to 7 minutes to form
a liquid gruel or watery porridge.
Cool the drink quickly and begin
to give it to the sick person.
CAUTION: Taste the drink each time before you
give it to make sure that it has not spoiled.
Cereal drinks can spoil within a few hours in
hot weather.
CAUTION: Before adding the sugar, taste
the drink and be sure it is less salty than
tears.
Warning:: If dehydration gets worse or other danger signs appear, get medical help.