What oral rehydration salts are, how to mix them correctly and everyday ways to keep your fluids up.
Water does most of the work of keeping us hydrated. On very hot days, after heavy sweating or when the body has lost fluids, we also lose salts, and that is where oral rehydration salts, or ORS, come in.
What ORS is
ORS is a measured mix of salts and glucose that you dissolve in water. The balance is what matters, which is why a ready sachet is more reliable than guessing with salt and sugar at home.
Mix it exactly as directed
Use clean drinking water and the exact amount stated on the sachet. Do not add extra sugar, and do not mix it with juice or soft drinks. Use the prepared solution within the time given on the pack and throw away what is left.
Everyday hydration habits
Keep a water bottle within reach and sip through the day instead of waiting until you are thirsty. Buttermilk, coconut water, soups and water-rich fruit all count. Drink a little more in hot weather and when you exercise.
Watch children and older adults
Young children and elderly family members can become dehydrated faster and may not ask for water. Offer drinks regularly.
If someone cannot keep fluids down, seems unusually drowsy or is not improving, seek medical care promptly. For advice that fits your own health, speak to a Medora pharmacist or your doctor.
This article is general health information, not medical advice. Talk to a pharmacist or doctor about your own symptoms and medicines.
