Matt Ames Member of the Order of Australia (AM)

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

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Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the General Division Mr Matthew Bruce Ames, QLD For significant service to community health, to engineering, to business administration, and to corporate governance. Hear and Say • Board Chair, 2020-2026. • Board Member, since 2016-2026. Bionics Gamechangers Australia • Board Member, 2018-2025. • Steering Committee Member, Bionics Queensland, c2017. Queensland Health • Deputy Chair, Metro South Hospital and Health Service, current. • Board Member, Metro South Hospital and Health Service, since 2022. • Adult Consumer Representative, Queensland Sepsis Steering Committee, since 2017. • Member, Statewide Infection Control Network, since 2020. • Director, EMPOWER Project, Jamieson Trauma Institute, Metro North Health, and Queenslanders with Disability Network, since 2025. Australian Digital Health Agency • Steering Committee Member, Consumer Representative, The Pathology Program Steering Group, and Diagnostic Imaging Program Steering Group, c2017-2018. Australian Sepsis Network • Member, Sepsis Australia Consumer Advisory Group, current. • Member, Quad Squad – National Amputee Support Group. • Contributor, Stopping Sepsis National Action Plan, 2017. The Corporation of the Trustees of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane – Centacare • Board Member, Xavier Children’s Support Network, 2018-2024. • Council Member, Centacare Brisbane, 2018-2025. • Board Member, Get Started Disability Support Australia, since 2025. Professional • Director, Ames Developments Pty Ltd, since 2016. • Group Manager, Health, Safety and Environment, Origin Energy, 2007-2012. • Principal Environmental Engineer, URS Corporation, 2003-2007. • Senior Environmental Advisor, Santos Ltd, 1997-2003. • Environmental Engineer, Dames and Moore, 1995-1997. • Co-Author, book, Will to Live, memoir, 328p, Penguin Ebooks, 2014. Awards and Recognition include: • Queensland Pride of Australia Medal for Courage, News Corp Australia, 2013