Walk for Archie – Supporting Sepsis Australia

JUST ASK, COULD IT BE SEPSIS?

Sepsis is a life-threatening response to any infection that progresses quickly and requires immediate attention. Know the signs and symptoms (one or all of the following may be present).

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF SEPSIS

Rapid breathing

Rapid heart rate

Confusion, slurred speech or disorientation

Fever or shivering

Muscle pain

Not passing urine

Discoloured skin

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO!

Early-stage sepsis:

Sufferers are generally unwell, may display one or all of the signs and symptoms, feel worse than when previously sick and there is concern
Contact healthdirect at https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/ OR Call 1800 022 222 (24 hours) and ask…could it be sepsis?

Later stage sepsis:

Sufferers are seriously unwell, likely to display significant changes in multiple signs and symptoms, feel like they might die and there is serious concern
CALL 000 Ambulance or if quicker go immediately to the closest Emergency Department and ask….could it be sepsis?

Key considerations:

If concerned get advice immediately
If seriously concerned get treatment immediately
Inflammation due to infection is normal but in sepsis the inflammation response is uncontrolled, it may start mildly but rapidly escalate to critical illness
Sepsis is difficult to recognise as it may not have an obvious cause, it can look like viral or bacterial illnesses such as flu, gastro or urinary tract infection
Trust your intuition…if it doesn’t feel right TAKE ACTION and always ask…could it be sepsis?

symptom checker Call 000

Archie lost his life on 23 August 2022, his first birthday.

Infection triggered sepsis leading to organ failure and sadly his death.

If the words “Could it be Sepsis?” were used earlier it could have saved his life.

See Archie’s story at: Tiny Hearts – Archie

Walk for Archie aims to raise awareness about sepsis so that no other family has to go through this devastating experience.

Walk for Archie is on Saturday 8 am 16th September 2023, coinciding in the same week with World Sepsis Day, and involves a 6.5 km round trip starting at Speer’s Point Amateur Sailing Club.

To participate and support this cause please see: https://www.mycause.com.au/p/320883/walk-for-archie

Your support will go to Sepsis Australia who are working to improve sepsis care in Australia by developing lifesaving clinical guidance to detect, diagnose and treat the condition;
raise community awareness of sepsis symptoms and the importance of seeking immediate medical attention; and
establish a much-needed National Centre for Sepsis, which will play a key coordinating role in fighting the condition across the country.

Together we can improve early recognition, prevention and treatment of sepsis and save thousands of lives each year.

Thank you