Following Simon’s story, this feels like a good opportunity to learn more about farming’s silent killer… SEPSIS
At least 245,000 in the UK are affected by sepsis each year and at least 48,000 people who develop sepsis lose their lives in sepsis-related illnesses every year. That equates to five people every hour
It may be one of the oldest described illnesses (first described back in 400 BCE) however, relatively little is known about this ‘silent killer’.
First thing’s first – sepsis is a life-threatening condition that arises when the body’s response to an infection injures its own tissues and organs.
It happens when the body’s immune system – which normally helps to protect us and fight infection – goes into overdrive and can lead to shock, multiple organ failure and sometimes death, especially if it’s not recognised early and treated quickly.
Dr Ron Daniels, CEO & Founder UK Sepsis Trust
According to UK Sepsis Trust Founder & CEO Dr. Ron Daniels: “Sepsis is indiscriminate: while it primarily affects very young children and older adults and is also more common in people with underlying health conditions, it can sometimes be triggered in those who are otherwise fit and healthy.
So how does this relate to the farming community?
The NFU Mutual Charitable Trust have been supporting the UK Sepsis Trust to support their efforts in raising awareness of the risks of sepsis within the farming community. As we saw with Simon’s video, farmers can be extremely susceptible to sepsis: due to the nature of their work; their resilience and can-do attitude; their often rural, isolated setting; and a reluctance to have time off and/or seek medical attention when not feeling well.
Dr Daniels explains: “The fact is that farmers and labourers are at increased risk of becoming infected, so any cuts should be cleaned thoroughly, disinfected and covered before returning to work.”
The advice for anyone working in the industry would be to add Sepsis to the risks facing farmers ever day in the workplace. Sepsis can be caused by:
- a chest infection causing pneumonia
- a urine infection in the bladder
- a problem in the abdomen, such as a burst ulcer or a hole in the bowel
- an infected cut, graze or bite
- a wound from trauma or surgery
- a leg ulcer or cellulitis
REMEMBER
Always call 111 or contact your GP if you’re worried about an infection.
Call 999 or visit A&E if someone has one of the sepsis symptoms.
To learn more about Sepsis visit:
About Sepsis | Sepsis Symptoms | The UK Sepsis Trust
Symptoms of sepsis – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
