What is the correct ratio of salt to water for heat exhaustion?

• A. Two teaspoons of salt per liters
• B. One teaspoon of salt per one litre/35 ounces of water
• C. Half a teaspoon of salt per liter
• D. One liter of water with no salt

Answer: (B)

When the body sweats, you lose both fluids and minerals, especially sodium. Rehydration for heat exhaustion works best when you replace both the water you’ve lost and enough salt to restore electrolyte balance. A mix with about one teaspoon of salt per liter of water provides enough sodium to support blood volume and nerve/muscle function without making the drink too salty, which helps you drink it more easily and tolerate it well. The sodium also helps the gut absorb fluids more effectively, particularly when a small amount of sugar is present, as in standard rehydration guidelines.

Drinking plain water alone can leave you short on electrolytes, delaying recovery if you’ve been sweating a lot. Using too much salt can cause stomach upset and excessively high sodium levels, while too little salt may not adequately replace what you’ve lost. So the balanced approach of roughly one teaspoon of salt per liter of water best supports rehydration during heat exhaustion.