Think FAST: Spotting Sepsis Could Save a Life

At Izard Regional Hospital, our mission is to provide high-quality, compassionate, patient‑centered healthcare to families across our region. This September, in honor of Sepsis Awareness Month, we’re joining healthcare professionals nationwide to raise awareness about sepsis – a life-threatening condition that demands quick recognition and rapid response.

What Is Sepsis – and Why It Matters

Sepsis occurs when the body has an extreme response to infection, triggering inflammation that can lead to organ dysfunction, tissue damage, and potentially death. It affects 1.7 million U.S. adults each year, leading to approximately 350,000 adult deaths, a number that surpasses deaths from prostate cancer, breast cancer, and opioid overdoses combined.

Know the Signs: Remember “T‑I‑M‑E”

Sepsis can develop fast – recognizing the key warning signs can be a lifesaver. The “T‑I‑M‑E” memory aid outlines the most critical symptoms:

• Temperature: Higher or lower than normal
• Infection: Obvious signs of infection (e.g., skin sores, UTI, pneumonia)
• Mental Decline: Confusion, sleepiness, difficulty waking
• Extremely Ill: Severe pain, discomfort, shortness of breath

If someone shows multiple symptoms from the T‑I‑M‑E list, seek emergency medical care immediately—every hour counts. Each hour of delay in treatment increases the risk of death by 4–9%.

How You Can Protect Yourself and Loved Ones

At Izard Regional Hospital, we’re proud to offer services and expertise to address sepsis head-on:

• Our 24/7 Emergency Department is staffed by emergency medicine specialists and certified nurses ready to act swiftly and decisively
• Our in-house laboratory facilitates rapid testing to help detect infections early and inform urgent care decisions.
• Through our Swing Bed Program, patients requiring post-acute care – including IV antibiotics, wound care, and respiratory support – can continue recovery in a trusted, local setting that keeps you close to home.

Why Early Detection Is So Vital

Prompt identification and treatment of sepsis can dramatically reduce complications, long-term health issues, and mortality rates. Many deaths from sepsis—estimates suggest up to 80%—could be prevented with timely care.

Our Commitment This Sepsis Awareness Month

1. Educate our community about sepsis symptoms and the urgency of early response.
2. Encourage vaccination, proper wound care, and infection prevention—simple steps that can lower risk significantly.
3. Highlight our hospital’s resources, from rapid diagnostics in the ER to compassionate recovery support via our Swing Bed Program.

Take Action

If you or someone you know shows signs consistent with T‑I‑M‑E, don’t wait—call 911 or come to our ER immediately. At Izard Regional Hospital, you’re not just a patient. You’re part of our community, and your health is our priority.

Together, we can turn awareness into action, and help ensure more patients survive and thrive beyond sepsis.

About Izard Regional Hospital

Located in Calico Rock, we are a 25-bed critical access hospital dedicated to delivering patient‑centered care through services like emergency care, diagnostics, nutrition counseling, physical therapy, radiology, and swing bed post‑acute support.