The Aneurin Bevan University Health Board has launced a sepsis awareness campaign to help people recognise the symptons of this life-threatening medical emergecny.
The board has teamed up The UK Sepsis Trust and bereaved mother Corinne Cope, whose nine-year-old son Dylan tragically lost his life to sepsis.
Sepsis is a life-threatening emergency. It happens when your immune system overreacts to an infection and starts to damage your body’s own tissues and organs. Early recognition and swift medical treatment can save lives. The campaign aims to educate the public, healthcare professionals, and caregivers about the warning signs and the importance of acting quickly.
Nicola Prygodzicz, chief executive of Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, said: “The UK Sepsis Trust estimates that 5 people die every hour in the UK from sepsis. Sepsis is a medical emergency that requires urgent action. We hope to reach as many people as possible with our Sepsis Awareness campaign.
“We are proud to collaborate with the UK Sepsis Trust and Corinne Cope in this vital effort to educate and empower people to recognise sepsis and act fast, and we would like to express our thanks for their help and support.”
Corinne Cope, who has committed to raising awareness following the devastating loss of her son Dylan, said: ” No parent should experience the brutal pain of losing a child to a preventable death. This campaign will help everyone, both healthcare professionals and public, to become more ‘sepsis savvy’.
“Being provided with appropriate knowledge is vital, because with sepsis, every minute counts. I am pleased to work alongside ABUHB and The UK Sepsis Trust to reinforce this crucial message to all.”
UK Sepsis Trust
The campaign is being produced in collaboration with The UK Sepsis Trust.
Terence Canning, head of communities at The UK Sepsis Trust, said: “The UK Sepsis Trust welcomes the ABUHB sepsis campaign and are extremely pleased to be working with the team on this very important project. Sepsis is a time critical condition which claims many lives in Wales each year just like that of 9-year-old Dylan Cope. It is crucial that the signs and symptoms are known and promptly considered so that any necessary treatment required can begin at the earliest possible stage.
“Through this campaign we want every patient to have the best chance of the best outcome and the key to this is the education of both the public and health professionals so that they have the instinct, knowledge, and confidence to just ask, ‘could it be sepsis?’ It’s the simplest of questions but it could save a life.”
As part of the campaign Aneurin Bevan University Health Board will distribute educational materials and share real-life stories to highlight the importance of recognising sepsis symptoms early.
Sepsis symptoms
There are many possible symptoms, which can be similar to those of other conditions, including flu or a chest infection.
Babies and young children may have sepsis if they:
- Are breathing very fast
- Have a fit or convulsion
- Look mottled, bluish, or pale – on darker skin tones, colour changes may appear on the inner forearms or palms
- Have a rash that does not fade when pressed
- Are very lethargic or difficult to wake
- Feel abnormally cold to the touch
A child under 5 may have sepsis if they:
- Are not feeding
- Are vomiting repeatedly
- Have not passed urine for 12 hours
Symptoms in adults or older children include:
- Slurred speech or confusion
- Extreme shivering or muscle pain
- Passing no urine (in a day)
- Severe breathlessness
- It feels like you’re going to die
- Skin mottled or discoloured
If you think you or someone you care for has symptoms of sepsis, call 999 or go to the Emergency Department at The Grange University Hospital. Health experts say you should just ask, “Could it be sepsis?”