How Can You Help?
Share your StorySupport UsGet Resources

Pediatric Sepsis Week

Sepsis is the leading cause of death of babies and young children worldwide.
Can you spot the signs?

Join Sepsis Alliance for the third annual Pediatric Sepsis Week, April 18th to 24th, to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of sepsis in children, recognize the 75,000 children who develop sepsis each year in the U.S, and honor those who have passed. This annual observance will be held the third week of April.

Keep scrolling to learn how to spot sepsis in children and how you can help spread awareness and save lives.

Bug Helps You Learn to Stay Sepsis Safe

Can you spot sepsis in children?

The signs of sepsis in a child include:

  • Feels abnormally cold to touch
  • Looks mottled, bluish, or has very pale skin
  • Has a rash that does not fade when pressed
  • Is breathing very fast
  • Has a convulsion
  • Is very lethargic or difficult to wake

Additionally, for children under 5 years:

  • Not drinking or feeding
  • Repeated vomiting
  • 12 hours without urinating

If you suspect your child has sepsis, seek emergency care immediately and say, “I suspect sepsis”

Honoring Bug’s Angels

Bug’s Angels are the children whose lives have been claimed by sepsis. Below we honor Prince, Millie, Gabriel, and Josslyn, but there are many more angels. This week and all year round we honor all of Bug’s angels.

Prince Foote

2 years old

Millie Rose Giani

5 years old

Gabriel Rojas

11 months old

Josslyn Sophia Jewel Gee

2 years old

Bug was inspired by the spirit of Erin “Bug” Flatley, an aspiring teacher who passed away from sepsis when she was 23 years old. She was created by Alyssia Aguilar in loving memory of her son Mark Anthony II, who was taken by sepsis when he was only 16 days old.

Learn more about Bug

What you need to know

  • Sepsis is the leading cause of death of young children and babies worldwide.
  • In the U.S, 75,000 children develop sepsis each year – that’s 200 children per day.
  • More children die of sepsis than of childhood cancers.
  • One-third of pediatric sepsis survivors show a decline in their functional status 28 days after hospital discharge.
  • Preterm infants who are black are 13 times more likely to develop sepsis and 15 times more likely to die than non-black infants.
  • Infants from lower income families are 20% more likely to die from sepsis.
  • Infants from families without health insurance are 3 times more likely to die from sepsis.

Learn more about sepsis in children

Help Spread Awareness

Click the below boxes for shareable resource that will help you spread awareness of sepsis in children. Remember when you share on social media to hashtag #PediatricSepsisWeek and tag @SepsisAlliance.

Sepsis and Children Video

Watch and share this video that tells the story of 8-year-old Michael who developed sepsis from an infection and became a quadruple amputee.

View
Social Media Infographics

Download these infographics and share them with your social media community. Remember to hashtag #PediatricSepsisWeek and tag @SepsisAlliance.

Download Now

Social Media Infographics

Spread the word- #PediatricSepsisWeek

Click on the below infographics to download and share them with your social media community. Remember to hashtag #PediatricSepsisWeek and tag @SepsisAlliance when you do.

sepsis, pediatric sepsis, children and sepsis sepsis, pediatric sepsis, children and sepsis sepsis, pediatric sepsis, children and sepsis sepsis, pediatric sepsis, children and sepsis sepsis, pediatric sepsis, children and sepsis

Bug Coloring Book

Download this printable coloring book to help children learn about preventing infections. Infection prevention equals sepsis prevention.

Download Now
Fact Sheet

Make sure you have all the latest facts about sepsis and children. Click below to download our 2020 Children and Sepsis fact sheet.

Download
Sepsis and Children Information Guide

Click below to download this easy to print guide about sepsis and children.

Download

Children

Infographic Poster

Click below to download this infographic poster that can be printed or add to your website/blog.

Download

Copyright ©2021 Sepsis Alliance. All rights reserved.

Sepsis Alliance is a tax-exempt organization under Sections 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions are deductible for computing income estate taxes.
Sepsis Alliance tax ID 38-3110993.