Trainer Attachment 5A: Materials and equipment needed for ORT stations

Introduction

The set-up for Stations. 1 and 2 is intended to permit participants to learn how to prepare two kinds of oral rehydration solutions under organized, clean conditions, wing local utensils and measures. Modify these preparations to fit government standards for ORT preparation.

If the training is conducted at a regional site near a community, you may want to arrange opportunities for participants to mix ORT solutions in local homes, under the supervision of someone skilled in mixing ORT.

Both Stations should have:

- soap and water for handwashing,
- clean water for mixing the solution,
- ladle or means of drawing water,
- hand towels,
- spoons or utensils for stirring,
- drinking glasses or cups for tasting solution.
- large (over 1 liter) container to use in stirring the solution

Station 1: Pre-packaged Solutions

- Proper size containers (usually over one liter but marked to give volume corresponding to exactly 1 liter) for mixing packets and water

- Local containers that approximate 1 liter

- Enough Packets for all participants to mix the solution

Instructions

- Mix the solution in the marked container and pour it into the local container.

- Note hoc closely the local container matches the volume of the marked container and what problems this could cause.

- Complete the ORT Preparation Worksheet (column one) this station.

Station 2: Homemade Solutions: Sugar and Salt

- Proper size local container and marked container for mixing.

- Measuring spoons

- Plenty of salt and sugar (If baking soda is available and is part of the government standards for mixing ORT solutions, include it)

- Knife for leveling measurements

- Weighed, labeled correct amounts of ingredients fusing the WHO recommendations).

It the government standard measurements are the handful and the pinch, have participants compare the weighed amounts of ingredients with their own "handful" and "pinch." This reduces variation in measurement resulting from differences in hand size and perceptions of what constitutes a handful or a pinch. Be sure to include the weighed ingredients in your demonstration. Stress the importance of accurate measurement.

If locally available salt is very coarse, provide a means to grind it for more accurate measurement.

Instructions:

- Measure and mix the solution.

- Compare your measured amounts with the samples of ingredients that were weighed exactly.

- Complete the ORT Preparation Worksheet (Column two). Give particular attention to " problems in solution preparation. and how they could affect the success of mixing ORT solutions in the home.