Trust Nurse urges local people to join her to raise awareness of Sepsis
Ruth Harrisson, an acute liaison nurse at the Trust, is urging everyone to take part in a project to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of sepsis.
World Sepsis Day takes place in September and to prepare Ruth is asking colleagues and local people to join the sepsis aware bear campaign.
Sepsis is a life-threatening reaction to an infection. It happens when your immune system overreacts to an infection and starts to damage your body's own tissues and organs
The sepsis aware bear campaign uses teddies to raise awareness of the symptoms of sepsis. The cuddly toys, with unique names and the symptoms tied around their neck, are designed to be passed from person to person. The symptoms have also been translated into Makaton for those with wider learning disabilities.
The idea is that these bears will be passed from person to person and travel the world raising awareness of SEPSIS. Their journeys began in Mansfield and the bears have travelled as far as Australia.
Ruth, alongside sepsis nurse Paula Evans and Julie Hough work placement co-ordinator for creative and digital industries, from West Notts College launched the campaign following the development of a learning resource for NHS England https://youtu.be/CflZRfFZj8c.
Together the trio purchased small bears, costing just £1 from Ikea and produced the symptoms on laminated paper, to be tied round their necks. Each given unique names which highlighted some of the symptoms like Discoloured Dave, Breathless Brian, Blocked-up Bob, Ryan Rigor, and even a Fainting Freda.
This year the trio had planned to attempt a world record. The attempt would follow the learning that had been discovered following World Sepsis Day 2018 and see people with learning disabilities from across the country come together to learn about infections whilst learning the correct method of handwashing.
However, with the emergence of Covid-19, these plans have changed and now the team would like your help to virtually spread the message across the world!
How you can help!
- Record yourself landscape with someone off camera throwing you a bear (any bear) from your left.
- Then throw it to your right (no one has to be there) about head and shoulder height.
- Upload as a private message here and we will do the rest.
- Be as innovative as you like, we have yoga poses, dogs, drivers, nurses, PPE and much more.
- Get as many people as possible to join in...this maybe could even make it as our world record!
Check out this video that Ruth has created with her children for guidance.
