Did you know September is “Sepsis Awareness Month?”

Did you know September is Sepsis Awareness Month? Working with the Sepsis Alliance, the DFW Hospital Council (DFWHC) Foundation will participate in multiple events in the coming weeks to promote the campaign.

Sepsis can be caused by any type of infection: bacterial, viral, fungal, or even parasitic. Many infections can be prevented simply by good and consistent hygiene. Others can be prevented through the use of vaccinations.

“Every September, we invite individuals, healthcare professionals and organizations to help save lives by raising awareness about Sepsis, the leading cause of deaths in U.S. hospitals,” said Patti Taylor, director of quality and patient safety at the DFWHC Foundation. “Sepsis is the body’s life-threatening response to infection that can lead to tissue damage and organ failure. We have been working for several years now at the DFWHC Foundation to raise awareness on this issue and to decrease North Texas occurrences.”

A few tips:

Get vaccinated
Vaccinations, also known as immunizations, can help make you immune to viruses, such as the chicken pox, which can lead to sepsis.

Care for open wounds
Cuts, scrapes, or breaks in the skin can allow harmful bacteria to enter your body. For this reason, it’s essential to:
• Clean open wounds as quickly as possible and keep them clean;
• Monitor wounds for signs of an infection: such as redness around the wound, skin around the wound is warm to touch, increased pain and/or discharge from wound;
• Consult a doctor if there are signs of infection.

If prescribed, take your antibiotics correctly.
• Carefully follow the directions for use;
• Take them on time;
• Finish the full course, even if you feel better sooner;
• Store the antibiotics as directed.

Wash your hands
Wash your hands using running water. Lather your hands well, rub between each finger and under your nails, and dry your hands thoroughly with a clean towel. You can also use waterless cleansers if soap and water are not available.

You can download a flyer here.

A second informational flyer can be found here.

For additional information, please contact Patti at ptaylor@dfwhcfoundation.org.