Governor Proclaims Sepsis Awareness Month 2023

WHEREAS, sepsis results from an overwhelming immune response to infection, whereby immune chemicals released into the blood to combat infection trigger widespread inflammation; and

WHEREAS, sepsis happens when an infection you already have triggers a chain reaction throughout your body, with most cases starting before a patient goes to the hospital; and

WHEREAS, each year, at least 1.7 million adults in the United States develop sepsis, and at least 350,000 adults who develop sepsis die during their hospitalization, or are discharged to hospice; and

WHEREAS, in North Carolina, 1,669 people died from sepsis or septicemia in 2021; and

WHEREAS, young children and the elderly experience the greatest number of sepsis-related deaths; sepsis kills more Americans than prostate cancer, breast cancer, and opioid overdoses combined, and it is the most expensive cause of hospitalization in the United States; and

WHEREAS, viral sepsis is the most common complication in severe COVID-19, emphasizing the importance of infection prevention and sepsis awareness to public health; and

WHEREAS, despite the severe danger and widespread occurrence of this illness, a survey conducted by Sepsis Alliance found that fewer than 12 percent of adults in the United States can identify the symptoms of sepsis; and

WHEREAS, sepsis can be treated with immediate diagnosis and care, but must be treated as a medical emergency, as it contributes to tissue damage and organ failure;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, ROY COOPER, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim September, 2023, as “SEPSIS AWARNESS MONTH” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens.