Community Health Worker Training Materials for Cholera Prevention ...

Module 5:
Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS)
Dehydration is the loss of water and salts from the body. This often happens
when people have watery diarrhea. It is the loss of water and salts that can
lead to death. Drink oral rehydration solution (ORS) when you have diarrhea
to replace lost water and salts. It’s important to know:
• Drinking ORS will not prevent diarrhea
• Drinking ORS will not immediately stop your diarrhea
• Drinking ORS when you have diarrhea can save your life
I. When do you use ORS?
ORS is a critical life-saving treatment for adults and children with watery diarrhea that can look like cloudy rice
water. Dehydration is rapid, so prepare and give ORS immediately to people with watery diarrhea that can look
like cloudy rice water.
II. How to prepare Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS)
• Wash hands with soap and safe water (safe water is water that is bottled with an unbroken seal, has been
boiled, or has been treated with a chlorine product).
• In a clean container, add 1liter (¼ gallon) of safe drinking water.
» If not sure water is safe to drink, boil it for at least 1 minute or treat it with a chlorine product.
» If no fuel is available for boiling water or if no chlorine products are available to treat water to make
it safe, community members should still make ORS with the water they have because ORS with any
water can save lives.
• Empty ORS sachet into water and stir with a clean utensil.
• Use clean cup or spoon (for child) to drink ORS.
• Sip ORS frequently.
• Adults and older children should continue to eat frequently. Infants and young children should continue
breastfeeding frequently.
• Make sure people do not add other liquids (like fruit juice) or other ingredients (like sugar or honey) to
improve the taste of the ORS.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
v2.0
CS218556