Today’s brief is a very important one that I hope the OMBLES will get behind.
Someone who means a lot to me was affected by sepsis a couple of years ago and has had to endure over 20 operations and daily nurse visits ever since. It kills me inside to know that this thing kills them inside.
It has had a severe impact on their life. But, importantly, it didn’t take their life.
I’d like this to be a message of positivity and support towards them and all of the other people affected.
Who knows… the messages we share and the knowledge we all gain today could save someone’s life…
So that’s why today we are asking you to help us spread this message as far and wide as possible. We’re looking for scribbles, poster designs, sketches, GIFs and more. Whatever it takes to get this across and encourage people to just ask ‘Could it be Sepsis?’
Please tweet your ads to @OneMinuteBriefs and @UKSepsisTrust with the hashtag #CouldItBeSepsis
Prizes:
The winner will receive written acknowledgment of their achievement from Lord (Michael) Grade, Chair of the UK Sepsis Trust Development Group.
The winner and the top 3 will each receive a hoodie, pin badge & pen too!
Every 3 seconds, someone in the world dies of sepsis. In the UK alone, 245,000 people are affected by sepsis with at least 48,000 people losing their lives in sepsis-related illness’ every year. This is more than breast, bowel and prostate cancer combined. Globally, sepsis claims 11 million lives a year. Yet, for many patients, with early diagnosis it is easily treatable.
This is especially timely since survivors of COVID-19 are more likely to develop sepsis in the 12 months following their illness.
The UK Sepsis Trust (UKST) exists to fight this life-threatening condition, stop preventable deaths and support those affected by sepsis.
25,000
hospital admissions with sepsis each year in the UK occur in children
40%
of all sepsis survivors suffer permanent, life-changing after effects
5
people die with sepsis every hour in the UK
WHAT IS SEPSIS?
Sepsis (also known as blood poisoning) is the immune system’s overreaction to an infection or injury. Normally our immune system fights infection – but sometimes, for reasons we don’t yet understand, it attacks our body’s own organs and tissues. If not treated immediately, sepsis can result in organ failure and death. Yet with early diagnosis, it can be treated with antibiotics.
Sepsis can also be caused by COVID-19 and survivors of the condition caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus are more likely to develop sepsis in the 12 months following their illness.
https://twitter.com/UKSepsisTrust/status/1274002074699735042
https://twitter.com/UKSepsisTrust/status/1251117960502087680
Founder of the Sepsis Trust, Dr Ron Daniels spoke about this here:
https://www.hospitaltimes.co.uk/the-fight-against-sepsis-in-the-covid-era/
SYMPTOMS
Sepsis can initially look like flu, gastroenteritis or a chest infection. There is no one sign, and symptoms present differently between adults and children.
HOW TO SPOT SEPSIS IN ADULTS
Seek medical help urgently if you (or another adult) develop any of these signs:
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
HOW TO SPOT SEPSIS IN CHILDREN
If your child is unwell with either a fever or very low temperature (or has had a fever in the last 24 hours), call 999 and just ask: ‘could it be sepsis?’
A child may have sepsis if he or she:
Is breathing very fast
Has a ‘fit’ or convulsion
Looks mottled, bluish, or pale
Has a rash that does not fade when you press it
Is very lethargic or difficult to wake
Feels abnormally cold to touch
A child under 5 may have sepsis if he or she:
Is not feeding
Is vomiting repeatedly
Has not passed urine for 12 hours
Links:
https://twitter.com/UKSepsisTrust
https://www.facebook.com/TheUkSepsisTrust
Check out how Iceland Foods partnered with the UKST to raise awareness of sepsis below. They put the message on the side of 19 million milk cartons. Could this inspire some entries & encourage other brands to get involved https://ifcf.org.uk/sepsis/
