SAN DIEGO, March 04, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Sepsis Alliance announces the release of Sepsis and Aging Community Education Presentation, a do-it-yourself (DIY) presentation toolkit to help educate older people about sepsis, the increased risks they have of developing it, and how to help prevent it. Sepsis, the body's life-threatening response to an infection, is the leading cause of death in U.S. hospitals, taking a life every 2 minutes.
More than 80% of sepsis patients are over 50 years old and adults aged 65 years and older are 13 times more likely to be hospitalized with sepsis than younger adults. To help prevent sepsis among older Americans, Sepsis Alliance partnered with Alliance for Aging Research to develop the informational video Sepsis in Older Americans: Saving Lives through Early Recognition. This 5-minute video, which covers the causes of and early symptoms of sepsis among seniors, is a key component of the community presentation.
"Raising sepsis awareness among older adults and their family caregivers is very important because people age 65 years and older are more susceptible to sepsis than any other group, the signs can be harder to identify, and the risk of sepsis-related death or long-term disability is higher. As we age, our immune systems become less effective at fighting infections, so every infection we get means we have a risk of developing sepsis," said Susan Peschin, MHS, President and CEO of the Alliance for Aging Research. "Early recognition of sepsis symptoms can save lives and reduce the risks of long-term effects."
"The Sepsis and Aging Community Education Presentation's do-it-yourself format allows anyone who is concerned about the health of older people to educate their community about what puts this population at a higher risk of developing sepsis, how to recognize the early signs and symptoms, and how to prevent it," said Thomas Heymann, President and Executive Director of Sepsis Alliance.
Sepsis and Aging Community Education Presentation provides members of the public, healthcare providers, and educators with step-by-step tools to mount their own presentation. These tools include customizable marketing materials, a complete PowerPoint presentation, a guide with instructions on planning and conducting a presentation, pre- and post-event quizzes for participants, and more.
The Sepsis and Aging Community Education Presentation was made possible by an unrestricted educational grant by Merck. The video, Sepsis in Older Americans: Saving Lives through Early Recognition was made possible by Edwards Lifesciences.
To download the presentation, please visit https://www.sepsis.org/resources/sepsis-and-aging-community-education-presentation/. To learn more about sepsis in older adults, please visit https://www.sepsis.org/sepsis-and/aging/.
About Sepsis Alliance
Sepsis Alliance is the leading sepsis organization in the U.S., working in all 50 states to save lives and reduce suffering by raising awareness of sepsis as a medical emergency. In 2011, Sepsis Alliance designated September as Sepsis Awareness Month to bring healthcare professionals and community members together in the fight against sepsis. In 2018, Sepsis Alliance created the award-winning national campaign, It's About T.I.M.E., to educate the public about the signs and symptoms of sepsis and to highlight the urgent need to seek treatment when symptoms are recognized. Sepsis Alliance gives a voice to the millions of people who have been touched by sepsis – to the survivors, and the friends and family members of those who have survived or who have died. Since 2007, sepsis awareness in the U.S. has risen from 19% to 65%. Sepsis Alliance is a GuideStar Gold Rated charity. For more information, please visit http://www.sepsis.org. Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter at @SepsisAlliance.
SOURCE Sepsis Alliance
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