Sepsis Canada

09/25/2026

Sepsis can affect anybody and should always be suspected if the symptoms are present. However, there are some individuals with a heightened risk of sepsis. They include:

• The elderly

• Infants

• Those with illnesses and injuries

• Sepsis survivors

• Pregnant individuals

• Those with immunodeficiencies

• Malnourished individuals

If you or someone you know falls into any of these categories, watch for sepsis symptoms whenever something doesn’t seem right!

09/25/2026

09/22/2026

Sepsis always stems from an existing infection, whether you know it or not. This means that the most powerful prevention strategies against sepsis focus on managing the infection. Some of the most effective strategies are:

• Hygienic wound care

• Treating infections early

• Minimizing hospital-acquired infections

• Hand washing

• Vaccines

• Clean water sources

• Maternal infection prevention

By staying aware of these strategies and avoiding their associated health complications, we can guard against sepsis!

09/18/2026

Sepsis always starts with an infection, which makes hygienic wound care vital. If you have a wound, be sure to:

• Wash hands before touching the wound or wound care items

• Remove dirt and debris from the wound by running it under tap water and very gently rubbing with a clean cloth

• If bleeding, gently press the wound with a clean bandage or cloth until it stops bleeding

• Use antibiotic ointment or petroleum jelly to keep the wound moist, which speeds up healing

• Use a clean bandage or Band-Aid to cover the wound entirely

• Repeat these steps daily

• If the wound changes colour, pain continues to increase, pus is produced, or it becomes much warmer and more swollen, please speak to your family doctor.

Wounds are a common starting point for sepsis, so these simple steps can help keep a minor scrape from escalating into a life-threatening situation.

09/16/2026

When Amalie Henze was 18, she had never heard of sepsis, so when a suspected bowel obstruction led to septic shock, she had no idea what her body was facing. She survived, but the illness cost her all four limbs.

She's now helping others learn what she didn't know, working with Neinstein, the Canadian Sepsis Foundation, and Sepsis Canada to publish Amalie's Guide to Sepsis.

Sepsis is the number one preventable cause of death in Canada, yet 54% of Canadians aren't confident they could recognize the signs. The guide explains what to watch for, how to advocate for yourself or a loved one, and what life after sepsis can look like.

Read the guide here:

Learn the warning signs of sepsis, how to advocate for yourself or a loved one, and find survivor support and resources, insights from sepsis survivor Amalie Henze and Neinstein LLP.

09/16/2026

09/13/2026

Tonight and across the weekend, a record 105 landmarks across Canada will light up in fuchsia for World Sepsis Day. That record arrives alongside 7 provincial and territorial proclamations and 26 municipal proclamations, the most Canada has ever seen.

Every illuminated structure and every proclamation raises awareness of sepsis among those who may never have known about the condition. Sepsis Canada hopes that reach continues to keep growing year over year.

If you are near any of these illuminations, please feel free to send us a photograph!

The full list of illuminations is here: https://www.sepsiscanada.ca/news-events/world-sepsis-day-2026



World Sepsis Day Action on Sepsis Canadian Institutes of Health Research

09/08/2026

Sepsis is a medical emergency. If you think you have sepsis, please seek urgent medical attention. Always remember the acronym S.E.P.S.I.S.

S = Skin colour changes
E = Extreme fever and shivering
P = Pain (severe and unrelenting)
S = Slurred speech
I = Increased heart and breathing rate
S = Stopped or reduced urination

09/08/2026

🌍 Invest in Sepsis – Save Lives

What will it take to make sepsis prevention, recognition, treatment, and recovery a global priority?

Join us for the 2026 World Sepsis Day Global Webinar on September 9 at 14:00 CEST for an international conversation on why investment in sepsis is needed now and how we can strengthen the global sepsis response.

The program brings together voices from across the world, including regional sepsis alliances, sepsis survivors and families, and global leaders in sepsis.

📺 Free livestream on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/live/-GVYu7ERmRI

📅 Program and speakers
http://globalsepsisalliance.org/invest-webinar

Invest Now – Save Lives by 2030.

09/04/2026

Sepsis is far more common than most people realize, yet nearly 40% of Canadians have never heard of it.

Sepsis is hard to diagnose because its symptoms mimic other conditions, making it a true hidden emergency. But when you look at infection-related deaths, sepsis is likely the 3rd leading cause of death in Canada.

Raising awareness saves lives. Next time you or a loved one is severely ill, ask one simple question: "Could this be sepsis?" It could make all the difference.

[Data sourced from Statistics Canada. Sepsis ranking inferred from publicly available data.]

…

Le sepsis est beaucoup plus fréquent que la plupart des gens ne le croient, et pourtant près de 40 % de la population canadienne n'en a jamais entendu parler.

Le sepsis est difficile à diagnostiquer, car ses symptômes ressemblent à ceux d'autres affections, ce qui en fait une véritable urgence cachée. Or, si l'on examine les décès liés aux infections, le sepsis serait vraisemblablement la 3e cause de mortalité en importance au Canada.

La sensibilisation sauve des vies. La prochaine fois que vous ou l'un de vos proches serez gravement malade, posez une simple question : « Serait-ce le sepsis? » Cela pourrait faire toute la différence.

[Données provenant de Statistique Canada. Le rang du sepsis est déduit de données accessibles au public.]

World Sepsis Day Action on Sepsis