We’re in the full swing of summer! It’s July,  the heart of a season filled with swimming, hiking, camps, road trips, and long days spent outdoors. It’s when kids get muddy, knees get scraped, bug bites get scratched, and little infections can sneak in unnoticed.

While most of us are enjoying the long days and warm nights, it’s important to remember: sepsis doesn’t take a summer vacation.

Sepsis is the body’s extreme and life-threatening response to an infection. It can affect anyone,  no matter how healthy  and it can escalate quickly. In the summer, when infections like skin wounds, ear infections, UTIs, and bug-borne illnesses are more common, the risk of sepsis can quietly rise. To learn the signs of sepsis, click here. 

Calling All Camp Nurses

Camp nurses are on the front lines of summer care, often spotting the first signs of illness or infection.We’re inviting them to join school nurses across the country by displaying our Sepsis in Children poster in their health centers. This simple action raises awareness among staff and caregivers and could help save lives.

If your child is at camp this summer, ask the camp nurse to download and display the poster. Together, we can make summer safer for every child. Download the poster here.

Your Summer First Aid Kit Can Make a Difference
Treating minor scrapes, bites, and burns properly helps prevent infection. That’s why we created a Summer First Aid Kit checklist to help families and caregivers be prepared wherever summer takes them  the beach, a campground, or the backseat of a minivan.

Tips to Prevent Infection This Summer:

• Clean cuts and scrapes right away and keep them covered.
• Watch bug bites or rashes for signs of swelling or infection.
• Encourage good hygiene and frequent handwashing, especially in camps and other group settings. 
• Make sure your child is up to date on their vaccines before attending camp. 
• Dry ears well after swimming and monitor for pain or fever.
• Don’t ignore persistent symptoms like fever, vomiting, extreme fatigue, or sudden behavioral changes especially in young children or older adults.

A Safe Summer Starts with Awareness
At End Sepsis, we’re working tirelessly year-round to raise awareness and end preventable deaths from sepsis. 

Enjoy your summer and also stay alert, stay prepared, and help us spread the word by sharing this post!