Health Innovation Network’s Sepsis Awareness Film for Parents of Children under 5

The early recognition and treatment of sepsis is known to save lives, but sepsis can cause vague symptoms and develop very quickly, particularly in young children. It is therefore vitally important for parents, as well as healthcare professionals, to be aware of the early signs of sepsis in this age group. 

Developed in partnership with NHS England and the ASK SNIFF Safety Netting Collaborative, Health Innovation Network’s short film “Spotting the Signs of Sepsis” (embedded below / YouTube link) was co-designed with parents, for parents, and uses real-life footage to raise awareness of sepsis in young children and empower parents to ask “Could this be Sepsis?” The clinical content is based on the Public Health England and the UK Sepsis Trust’s public awareness campaign launched in 2016. 

The film is publicly available on the NHS Choices’ website and their YouTube channel, with their Facebook launch receiving over 1.1 million views within a week. The sister film “Caring for Children with Fever at Home” provides practical tips and advice for parents.

The films are also being incorporated into the “safety-netting” information that Emergency Department and Primary Care clinicians in England provide to parents of children with fever, or suspected infection, well enough to be cared for at home. Further resources to support this can be found on the Health Innovation Network’s website.