Following his wife Sandra’s hospitalisation with sepsis in 2018, UK Sepsis Trust Ambassador Harry Redknapp is calling for better recognition of the condition to ensure quick and effective treatment. 

The campaign invites sports clubs and communities across the UK to play the Sepsis Savvy Shootout game online and make sepsis awareness one of their goals this September. Participants in the campaign can enter a prize draw to win an exclusive meet and greet Redknapp 

Sepsis is a life-threatening reaction to an infection that can strike anyone at any time, and fives lives are lost to the condition every hour in the UK. But, if spotted early, it’s often treatable. That’s why UKST is reaching out to clubs, including staff, players and fans: to reach as many people as possible with life-saving information. UKST is asking sports clubs to make sepsis awareness one of their goals this September by promoting the game in communications (including matchday programmes), displaying resources around clubs and encouraging their communities to get Sepsis Savvy. 

In the UK, sepsis affects 245,000 annually, claiming 48,000 lives. Sepsis can lead to shock, multiple organ failure and death if not recognised early and treated promptly. 

Harry Redknapp, UK Sepsis Trust Ambassador, said: “In 2018, my wife Sandra developed sepsis from a kidney infection. It was a terrifying experience – but we were lucky. She survived. 48,000 families across the UK aren’t as fortunate. 

“That’s why I’ve teamed up with The UK Sepsis Trust to get life-saving information in front of as many people as possible.” 

Sepsis arises in people of any age, whether or not they’ve got underlying illness, and although it always starts with an infection (such as pneumonia, chest infections, or UTIs), it’s unknown why some people develop sepsis in response to these common infections when others do not. As a result, sepsis presents very differently in each patient and can be challenging to identify. Early diagnosis and swift action are essential to improving outcomes for people with sepsis. 

Sepsis is as common as heart attacks in the UK: nearly 80,000 people each year suffer life-changing after-effects in the UK, with 82% of sepsis survivors experiencing ‘Post-Sepsis Syndrome’ more than a year after hospital discharge, and 18% left permanently unable to work. 

Dr Ron Daniels BEM, Founder and Chief Medical Officer of the UK Sepsis Trust, said: “Sports communities look after one another and rally around those in need. It’s this very ethos that inspired the idea for our Game On campaign. 

“The likelihood is that someone in your community has already been impacted by sepsis, whether directly or indirectly, and at UKST we’re committed to raising awareness of this lifechanging condition. We’re delighted to have Harry supporting our campaign – our goal is to empower every community to become Sepsis Savvy.” 

The deadline to enter the Sepsis Savvy Shootout prize draw is 30th September. The campaign, ‘It’s Game On for Sepsis Awareness,’ will however be live all year-round.