by vikingmedic » Tue Dec 01, 2009 7:29 pm
Oral rehydration salts such as the WHO formula are basically intended for use when the level of dehydration is severe/life threatening and IV replacement isn't an option. This might prove necessary for some one afflicted by cholera or severe dysentery, but given the amount of salt in these formulas I suspect they might induce vomiting on their own which would be, ya know, bad. Gatorade and the like are intended to supplement you and to prevent electrolyte deficits so that an individual can perform at peak or close to it for longer. Which explains the amount of sugar in it, nothing like a little sugar rush. A product I have seen mentioned here, Pedialyte, is probably best suited for oral rehydration and I still tell folks to cut it by half with water. Kids are far more susceptible to fluid and electrolyte deficits than adults and this stuff was formulated by pediatricians to that end. Your best solution for dealing with dehydration is to do your best to avoid it. Barring that, plain old water should suffice for most of your fluid replacement needs or perhaps a cup (8oz) of Gatorade chased with a liter or two of water, or if you feel you really need to, a 0.1% salt solution PO (yech). As a rule of thumb, if you don't need to piss, you aren't drinking enough water. I keep some gatorade in my big kit just in case but I prefer H2O straight up. However if I were treating someone for cholera or the like where fluid loss was likely to kill them, I'd be using IV therapy myself.
By all means, give peace a chance, in the event it doesn't work out I'll cover you.
