Sepsis – The Silent Killer

Whilst our daily headlines are understandably full of depressing statistics about covid infection rates and deaths it is easy to lose sight of other conditions which also extract a dreadful toll on our population. The Sepsis Trust tells us that there are 25,000 cases of Sepsis every year and 5 people die every hour from the disease.

The good news is that awareness and knowledge of how to identify the onset os sepsis is at last increasing due to campaigns amongst the medical profession and the public. Anyone who has visited a hospital or surgery recently will undoubtedly have noticed publicity about the condition.

One of the aspects that makes sepsis so dangerous is that in it’s early stages the symptoms cam be commonplace. There is no single ‘tell’ that enables you to make a quick identification. Sufferers can report feeling like they have influenza, gastroenteritis or even a chest infection. Sepsis can strike at any age but children and the elderly are particularly at risk, Sepsis is a relatively new name for the disease which is also referred to as septicaemia or blood poisoning.

The symptoms to look out for in adults are:

Slured speech or confusion

Extreme shivering or muscle pain

Passing no urine in a day

Severe breathlessness

It feels like you are going to die

Skin mottled or discoloured

In children symptoms to look out for include fast breathing, convulsions, mottled or pale skin, lethargy and feeling cold to the touch.

If you have any of these symptoms or care for someone who is, the advice is simple. Dial 999 for the ambulance service and ask the question ‘Could this be sepsis?’ Getting a skilled medical intervention is essential to save life.

For those of you who may have staff you would want to be equipped to recognise sepsis and respond quickly, or even if you just want to develop your own knowledge just in case a home for work situation arises help is a hand.

The Erudition Sepsis Awareness e Learning course is a high quality cost effective way to develop your knowledge on how to recognise possible cases os sepsis and how to respond. The course takes approximately one hour of your time. It is straight forward to access and easy to complete on any device – laptop, table or even smartphone. You can study in your own time, at your own pace and download a certificate of completion at the end. The Sepsis Awareness course costs £10. Follow this link to enrol