Short film encourages people to be 'sepsis savvy'

Birmingham-based Ark Media have produced a series of films for the UK Sepsis Trust (UKST) to encourage people to be 'sepsis savvy' and save lives.

The national campaign encourages businesses to raise awareness among their staff of the deadly condition, which last year claimed at least 48,000 lives in the UK - more than breast, bowel and prostate cancers combined.

Sepsis is when the immune system overreacts to an infection. Although often undetected due to the varied presentation of symptoms in children and adults, it can often be treated quickly with early diagnosis.

Connected to a local teacher who nearly lost his daughter to sepsis at a West Midlands hospital, the team at Ark Media set out to produce a suite of videos, with the main film highlighting through each story, the impact on families of not knowing about the condition.

Dr Ron Daniels, chief executive and founder of the UK Sepsis Trust said: “There 's a huge lack of awareness about sepsis, which is likely to be worsened by the Covid-19 pandemic. To save lives demands both an aware public and switched-on health professional - symptoms can vary hugely so communication is key. We 're hoping that these resources will help to increase the public 's knowledge about this devastating condition in an engaging way. ”

Actor Jason Watkins, known more recently for playing Harold Wilson in the third series of the Netflix drama 'The Crown ', is a UKST ambassador.

He features in the video and speaks powerfully about the tragic loss of his two-year-old daughter, Maude.

Jason said: “I 'd urge, in the strongest terms possible, as many organisations as possible to sign up to Sepsis Savvy. We may well not have lost our darling daughter to sepsis if we 'd known more about this condition and what to look out for. But sepsis was not, and still is not, part of our everyday language - and that 's the terrible tragedy and truth.

"We 're determined to prevent other families going through what we 've been, and are still, going through. So please, sign up now and protect your colleagues, customers, clients ”.

Lead partner and long-term UKST collaborator, Iceland Foods Charitable Foundation (IFCF), co-developed and provided significant funds towards the development of the Sepsis Savvy concept and resources.

Tarsem Dhaliwal, chief executive of Iceland Foods and Trustee of IFCF, said: “When it comes to saving lives from sepsis we know awareness is key. That 's why we 're delighted to have been involved with Sepsis Savvy from the start and, of course, to be one of the first organisations to sign up!

"The short film and game make it easy for us to educate our colleagues about sepsis and the signs to look out for and, crucially, it 's free and really easy to implement. We 're encouraging other like-minded companies to get involved too - if we all play our part, we can save even more lives. ”

Phil Arkinstall (pictured), managing director at Ark Media, and president of Sutton Coldfield Chamber, said: “This was a great project for the team to be involved with. The subject matter of the Sepsis Savvy campaign is something that everyone needs to know about and it 's great to play a part in getting this message out to the general public in an engaging way via video. ”

The Sepsis Savvy video is available here: https://vimeo.com/521367810

The free Sepsis Savvy resources, including a short educational film and a simple online game, are available by signing up at https://sepsistrust.org/savvy.

Eventually the UKST hopes that the Sepsis Savvy campaign will also be adopted by sporting clubs, schools, universities and charities such as those supporting the homeless and other vulnerable communities.