What should you know about oral rehydration salts guardian?

A guardian can use oral rehydration salts to replace water and electrolytes lost by a child or dependent adult, with careful mixing and supervision. The solution supports hydration during diarrhoea or vomiting, but it does not remove the cause of illness or make serious dehydration safe to manage alone.

A cared-for person may become thirsty, have a dry mouth, pass less urine, seem dizzy, or become unusually tired. Infants may have fewer wet nappies, while an older or dependent person may not be able to describe symptoms clearly. Age, weight, swallowing ability, medicines, and kidney or heart conditions can change the safest plan.

Never guess the dilution. A sachet intended for a particular volume must be mixed with that volume of safe water.

Check the label, wash your hands, and prepare the full sachet in clean water. Offer small, repeated sips with a cup, spoon, or suitable feeding method. If vomiting occurs, wait briefly and restart more slowly. Keep the person upright when drinking and stay nearby so swallowing difficulty or worsening drowsiness is noticed.

Do not force a person who is barely alert or unable to swallow. Do not add juice, milk, extra sugar, or extra salt, and do not share a prepared drink between people.

Seek urgent care if the person is difficult to wake, confused, faint, unable to drink, choking, breathing unusually, passing very little urine, or has blood in vomit or stool. Get prompt advice for a baby, frail adult, ongoing vomiting, worsening diarrhoea, severe pain, or any concern that the person is deteriorating.

Ask how much to offer for the person’s age and condition, how to recognise improvement, and where to go if they cannot keep the solution down.