In disasters like earthquakes, people can get sick from diarrhoea, vomiting, or fever. These can quickly lead to dehydration, especially when clean water is hard to find.
This guide can help you:
- Recognise signs of dehydration
- Give the right amount of ORS (Oral Rehydration Solution)
- Know when to go to a clinic or hospital
Signs Of Dehydration
In adults and Older Children:
- feeling thirsty
- dark yellow, strong-smelling pee
- peeing less often than usual
- feeling dizzy, lightheaded, or tired
- dry mouth, lips and tongue
- sunken eyes
In babies:
- a sunken soft spot (fontanelle) on top of their head
- sunken eyes
- few or no tears when they cry
- not having many wet nappies
- being drowsy or irritable
Check How Dehydrated Someone Is
These are not all the signs of dehydration — earlier symptoms (like dry mouth, tiredness, less pee) may appear first.
If you think someone may be dehydrated, start giving ORS right away. These tables can help you decide how much and how urgently.
🔴 SEVERE DEHYDRATION – URGENT HELP NEEDED
| Signs | What to Look For |
|---|---|
| Very weak or unconscious | Can’t sit, talk, or respond |
| Eyes very sunken | Eyes look deep or hollow |
| Cannot drink | Refuses or vomits everything |
| Pinch Test (gently pinch skin on the back of the hand, then let it go) | Skin goes back very slowly (more than 2 seconds) |
| Weak pulse | Cannot feel pulse in wrist |
❗ Go to clinic/hospital - Intravenous (IV) fluids needed. Give ORS if awake.
If 2 or more signs, start treatment.
🟡 MODERATE DEHYDRATION – Start ORS now!
| Signs | What to Look For |
|---|---|
| Irritable | Restless, crying, hard to calm |
| Sunken Eyes | Eyes look deep or hollow |
| Very Thirsty | Drinks water eagerly |
| Pinch Test (gently pinch skin on the back of the hand, then let it go) | Pinch belly – skin goes back slowly (within 2 seconds) |
✅ Give ORS now for 4 hours. Use chart below.
Moderate Dehydration: How Much ORS To Give?
The amount of ORS a person needs depends on their age, weight, and how dehydrated they are.
Use this table below to know how much to give and when.
🟡 For Moderate Dehydration
Give the full amount of ORS slowly over 4 hours:
| Age | Weight (approximate) | ORS in 4 Hours (1 cup = 200 ml) |
|---|---|---|
| Under 4 months | <5 kg | 1–2 cups (200–400 ml) |
| 4–11 months | 5–7.9 kg | 2–3 cups (400–600 ml) |
| 12 - 23 months | 8–10.9 kg | 3–4 cups (600–800 ml) |
| 2–4 years | 11–15.9 kg | 4–6 cups (800–1200 ml) |
| 5–14 years | 16–29.9 kg | 6–11 cups (1200–2200 ml) |
| 15+ & adults | 30+ kg | 11–20 cups (2200–4000 ml) |
Note: 1 cup = 200 ml (standard plastic cup)
Recheck after 4 hours:
- Feeling better after 4 hours? → Give ORS after each loose stool to prevent dehydration. Follow above “ Prevent Dehydration" guidance.
- Still showing signs of dehydration after 4 hours? → Give the same amount of ORS again.
- ❗Feeling worse (too weak to drink, very sleepy, can't respond)? → Go to clinic urgently!
Prevent Dehydration/Mild Diarrhoea: How Much ORS To Give?
The amount of ORS a person needs depends on their age, weight, and how dehydrated they are.
Use this table below to know how much to give and when.
🟢 Prevent Dehydration / For Mild Diarrhoea
(No dehydration signs yet)
Give ORS after every loose stool:
| Age | ORS After Each Stool |
|---|---|
| Under 2 years | 50 to 100 ml (10 to 20 teaspoons) |
| 2–10 years | 100 to 200 ml (½ to 1 cup) |
| Over 10 & Adults | 200–400 ml (1–2 cups) |
How To Make ORS Yourself
If you have pre-made ORS sachets, follow the instructions on the packet to find out how much water is needed to dilute the contents of each packet.
If ORS sachets aren’t available, you can make it using simple ingredients (WHO recipe):
Mix in a clean container:
- 1000 mL of safe drinking water
(Boil and cool water if not clean — especially for infants) - Half a teaspoon of salt
- Six teaspoons of sugar
- Stir until they fully dissolve in the water.
- It should taste mildly salty, like tears
- You can use plain rice water instead of plain water
- Add a little fruit juice or mashed banana to improve taste (optional)
- Give small sips often, especially after each loose stool
- Drink ORS as soon as possible after making it. Use within 8 hours, then make a new batch if needed.
- Oral rehydration salts should start working quickly and dehydration usually gets better within 3 to 4 hours.
- If vomiting, stop ORS for 10 min and then continue with very small, frequent, amounts; do not stop rehydration.
Advice For Babies & Young Children
- Keep giving breastmilk or formula — more often than usual.
- Do not dilute formula.
- If eating solids, give small sips of clean water and ORS often.
- Avoid sports drinks, soda, fruit juice — these may worsen symptoms.
- Offer ORS in small, frequent sips — use a spoon or syringe if needed
When To Get Medical Help
❗ Get urgent medical help if the person
- Is very tired, drowsy, or confused
- Has no improvement after 1–2 days
- Can’t drink or keeps vomiting
- Has dark yellow pee or is not peeing much (or few wet nappies in babies)
- Breathes fast or has a fast heartbeat
- A baby has sunken eyes or a sunken soft spot on their head
- A baby has no tears when crying
- Is dizzy when you stand up and it does not go away
Preventing Dehydration
- Drink water often, especially in hot weather or when unwell
- Eat foods with water (like soup, fruit)
- Help children and older people drink regularly, even if they don’t ask
- In very hot weather, heavy sweating can lead to serious conditions like heat exhaustion and heatstroke - learn the warning signs and what to do on this page.
For more information on dehydration, see the Dehydration Guide here.