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Sepsis is the body’s overwhelming response to an infection and is a medical emergency.  For every hour that sepsis goes untreated, the risk of death increases by 8%.

According to the Sepsis Alliance, as many as 87% of sepsis cases originate in the community with EMS transporting as many as 50% of patients with severe sepsis to the emergency room.  The Sepsis Alliance has created Sepsis Training Modules specifically for EMS providers. Sepsis: First Response is a 15-minute educational video and 60-minute training module to provide EMS providers with the tools for rapid recognition and treatment of sepsis in the field.

To access both the Sepsis: First Response 15-minute education video and the 60-minute training module, which can be downloaded and viewed separately, visit www.sepsis.org/sepsis-first-response.

EMS providers at all levels, whether first responders or paramedics, play a critical role in the early identification and treatment of sepsis. When EMS providers recognize that a patient has signs of sepsis and alert the receiving hospital, life-saving treatment can be initiated quicker, which will save lives and reduce the potential for the devastating effects that can occur such as amputations.”  – Krystal Hays, Great Plains QIN Quality Improvement Advisor.

Great Plains QIN received special funding to work in one rural geographical location in each of our four states (Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota) to increase awareness and early recognition of sepsis. Our team is offering evidence-based tools, resources, training and subject matter experts to reach rural communities and raise awareness of sepsis as a medical emergency. We believe improvements can be made in early recognition and treatment of sepsis in the targeted communities to reduce progression from sepsis to severe sepsis and septic shock that may result in death.

To learn more, visit our sepsis web page.