World Sepsis Day is this coming Saturday, 13th September. The aim of the day is to raise awareness about Sepsis and its impact on health in both adults and children.

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that happens when the body's response to infection causes tissue damage and organ failure. It is estimated that 245,000 people develop sepsis each year in the UK.

Adult symptoms:

• 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

Any child might have sepsis if they:

• Are breathing very fast
• Has had a fit or convulsion
• Look mottled, bluish or very pale
• Have a rash that doesn't fade when you press it
• Are very lethargic or difficult to wake
• Feel abnormally cold to the touch

Any child under 5 might have sepsis if they:

• Are not feeling well
• Have vomited repeatedly
• Hasn't had a wee or wet nappy for 12 hours

For more information on what to do if you think someone has Sepsis, please see the Sepsis pages on the intranet - or read this Sepsis guide.

The Martha's Rule initiative also aims to help families feel heard if they recognise a loved one is not themselves - or they feel something is wrong that is not being looked at. For more information on Martha's Rule, see our intranet pages.