WHEREAS, sepsis is a life-threatening condition that results from an abnormal immune response to infection in which the chemicals released into the blood to combat the infection trigger widespread inflammation; and
WHEREAS, sepsis can be treated with immediate diagnosis and care, but must be treated as a medical emergency; sepsis can contribute to tissue damage and organ failure, leaving some survivors with long-lasting limitations and disabilities known as post-sepsis syndrome (PSS); and
WHEREAS, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, sepsis is responsible for roughly 270,000 deaths in the United States each year; a third of the deaths that occur in a hospital are as a result of sepsis; and
WHEREAS, sepsis kills more people than prostate cancer, breast cancer, and opioid overdoses combined, and is the most expensive cause of hospitalization in the United States; and
WHEREAS, despite the severe danger and prevalence of this illness, a survey conducted by Sepsis Alliance found that only 12 percent of American adults know the symptoms of sepsis and about PSS; and
WHEREAS, the State of North Carolina urges widespread awareness of sepsis and post-sepsis syndrome, and recognizes the many survivors and loved ones that have had to deal with the often-tragic results of this terrible condition;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, ROY COOPER, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim February 14 – 20, 2021, as “SEPSIS SURVIVOR AWARENESS WEEK” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens.