ABOUT WORLD SEPSIS DAY
World Sepsis Day is an initiative by the Global Sepsis Alliance and has been established in 2012. The GSA is a non-profit charity organization with the mission to provide global leadership to reduce the worldwide burden of sepsis. To find out more about the GSA and the team behind it, please visit the GSA website.
Every year on September 13th, countless events raising awareness of sepsis are organized all over the world. The events range from medical education to information for lay people, sports activities, fundraising events like pink picnics, and much more.
WHY IS WORLD SEPSIS DAY IMPORTANT?
World Sepsis Day is held on September 13th every year and is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against sepsis. Sepsis accounts for at least 11 million deaths worldwide annually. Yet, depending on country and education, sepsis is known only to 7 – 50 % of the people. Likewise, it is poorly known that sepsis can be prevented by vaccination and clean care and that early recognition and treatment reduces sepsis mortality by 50 %. This lack of knowledge makes sepsis the number one preventable cause of death worldwide.
THESE SIGNS MAY INDICATE SEPSIS.
Slurred speech or confusion
Extreme shivering or muscle pain/fever
Passing no urine all day
Severe breathlessness
It feels like your going to die
Skin mottled or discoloured
FACTS ABOUT SEPSIS
> 47 – 50 million cases per year
> At least 11 million deaths per year
> 1 in 5 deaths worldwide is associated with sepsis
> Sepsis is the number 1 cause of death in hospitals, cause for hospital readmissions and healthcare cost
> up to 50% of sepsis survivors suffer from long-term physical and/or psychological effects
> 40% of cases are children under 5
> 80% of sepsis cases occur outside of a hospital
> Sepsis is always caused by an infection like pneumonia or diarrheal illness
Sepsis is a medical emergency – if you or someone you know shows signs of sepsis, seek medical care immediately. Every hour counts.