During Sepsis Awareness Month, the New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA) and the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) are emphasizing the dangers of sepsis, a life-threatening condition that can affect anyone but is especially risky for older adults. The agencies are urging New Yorkers to recognize symptoms early and seek prompt medical attention.
Governor Kathy Hochul marked September as Sepsis Awareness Month in New York, stating, “we must and will continue to raise awareness of the dangers of sepsis to help individuals recognize the signs of the medical emergency, and to strengthen sepsis treatments for the benefit of all New Yorkers.”
Sepsis occurs when the body has an extreme response to infection, which can result in tissue damage, organ failure, or death. Although it is a leading cause of death in U.S. hospitals, most cases begin in community settings rather than healthcare facilities. Statistics show that about 6 percent of hospitalizations involve sepsis and 35 percent of deaths within hospitals are attributed to it.
NYSOFA Director Greg Olsen said, “Sepsis can be deadly and does not discriminate by age. It is particularly threatening to older adults, young children and people with underlying medical conditions, so it’s vital to know the sign and symptoms. Get immediate medical help if you experience fever, extreme pain, high heart rate, shortness of breath, confusion and clammy or sweaty skin.”
New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald noted that those who are older, very young, pregnant or have chronic health problems face higher risk: “People who are older, very young, pregnant or have underlying medical conditions are at higher risk for developing sepsis, a serious bloodstream infection. As we recognize Sepsis Awareness Month, I urge all New Yorkers to be aware of the symptoms associated with sepsis and act fast to seek medical treatment if they suspect this life-threatening condition.”
A recent livestream hosted by Director Olsen included Thomas Heymann from Sepsis Alliance and Orlaith Staunton from END SEPSIS discussing public education efforts.
Each year in New York State alone severe sepsis impacts approximately 73,000 adults and 600 children; nationally over 1.7 million adults develop sepsis annually with at least 350,000 deaths occurring during hospitalization or after discharge into hospice care.
Following Rory Staunton’s death due to undiagnosed sepsis more than a decade ago—an event that prompted state action—New York became the first state in the country requiring all hospitals to implement standardized protocols for identifying and treating sepsis quickly. This mandate is known as Rory’s Regulations. Since their implementation alongside NYS Sepsis Care Improvement Initiative starting in 2014—and combined with ongoing training requirements for certain licensed professionals—the regulations contributed to saving more than 16,000 lives between 2015-2019.
Educational resources on recognizing signs such as fever or confusion are available through NYSOFA’s website at https://aging.ny.gov/sepsis in multiple languages.
Thomas Heymann from Sepsis Alliance said: “Sepsis kills more Americans each year than breast cancer, prostate cancer, and opioid overdoses combined yet too few people know the signs and symptoms. We applaud New York State’s leadership in recognizing Sepsis Awareness Month and prioritizing education and prevention. By working together to raise awareness especially among older adults and vulnerable populations we can save lives and reduce the devastating toll that sepsis takes on families and communities across New York and the nation.”
Ciaran & Orlaith Staunton from END SEPSIS added: “Rory’s Regulations in New York have effectively saved lives…But the colossal and preventable loss of life continues across our nation…The bipartisan SEPSIS Act introduced into Senate earlier this year…is a critical step…Visit https://www.endsepsis.org/legislative-action/ to contact your Senators…”
Al Cardillo from Home Care Association of New York State commented on prevention outside hospitals: “The vast majority of sepsis-related infections originate in home and community…HCA urges all home and community health agencies to adopt…home health sepsis tools…”
Becky Preve from Association on Aging in New York stated: “Sepsis is a devastating life-ending … issue that is largely misunderstood…Understanding sepsis signs symptoms … can change trajectory…”
For further information on prevention efforts statewide visit NYSOFA’s resource page at https://aging.ny.gov/sepsis.
