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

Ask…#could it be sepsis?

Sepsis affects 55,000 people resulting in 9,000 deaths each year in Australia but it is preventable, please support our fight to tackle sepsis.

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september awareness month

World Sepsis Day is 13 September, join us in raising awareness and save a life. Learn how you can get involved this September.

Activities and Resources #Sepsis challenge

Make your story count

Every lived experience of sepsis is invaluable to raise awareness, educate, prevent and to stop sepsis.

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Partner with us

Make a real difference…let us support your involvement in our Sepsis Australia Community Partner and Advocacy Program.

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You’re not alone

Reach out to our network of sepsis survivors, loved ones and those bereaved by sepsis for advice and support.

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What is sepsis?

A life-threatening INFLAMMATORY RESPONSE TO infection

Normally inflammation is a controlled response to infection, but in sepsis control of the inflammatory response is lost resulting the body attacking itself. Discover more about sepsis, recovery and Post Sepsis Syndrome.

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About us

Sepsis Australia works to improve patient outcomes and support families

Sepsis Australia is a collaborative of individuals and organisations who are working to prevent sepsis, improve outcomes for sepsis survivors and support families and carers, and those bereaved by sepsis

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September awareness month 2025

Every September, Sepsis Awareness Month unites people around the country and the world to shine a light on this life-threatening medical emergency. Sepsis affects over 55,000 Australians each year and claims more than 8,700 lives. Sepsis changes lives but with greater awareness, faster recognition, timely treatment, and improved care, we can change the story.

Find out how you can get involved this September!

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shaping sepsis care: survey 1 now available

Shaping Sepsis Care is a new Australian study that brings together patients, carers, and healthcare professionals to identify and rank the most important unanswered research questions about sepsis.

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