A CHARITY is raising awarness of the risk of sepsis in the farming community. 

To mark Farm Safety Week, which took place last week (July 22 - 26), the Farm Safety Foundation has highlighted that almost a quarter of a million people in the UK after affected by sepsis every year. 

They also said at least 48,000 people who develop sepsis lose their lives in sepsis-related illnesses every year - which is equal to five people every hour. 

Simon Clayton, a farmer from Lincolnshire, nearly had to have his leg amputated after contracting sepsis from an insect bite. 

He said: "To be honest, I'm quite thankful to be honest that I'm still here. It was so close and I'm really, really lucky. 

"I was just going about a normal day working a sugar beet farm in February when an insect took a bite out of my leg.

"The following day, I could see that my leg was beginning to swell and that something was not right. And then within 48 hours my leg was all swollen and red. I felt ill, I was shivering and shaking.

"When I went to the doctor, they said you are very ill. If we don't get on top of this, then we will have to look at removing the leg and that I may not recover.

"The insect bite triggered sepsis after two days. Within two days it nearly took my life. The emotional side of sepsis, the impact on your wellbeing is quite traumatic, trying to just, you know get your head around why it happened, what actually happened and where we go from here.”

Sepsis can also be caused by: 

  • a chest infection causing pneumonia
  • a urine infection in the bladder
  • a problem in the abdomen, such as a burst ulcer or a hole in the bowel
  • an infected cut, graze or bite
  • a wound from trauma or surgery
  • a leg ulcer or cellulitis

Dr Ron Daniels, UK Sepsis Trust Founder and CEO, added: "Sepsis is indiscriminate: while it primarily affects very young children and older adults and is also more common in people with underlying health conditions, it can sometimes be triggered in those who are otherwise fit and healthy. 

“The fact is that farmers and labourers are at increased risk of becoming infected, so any cuts should be cleaned thoroughly, disinfected and covered before returning to work.”  

The Farm Safety Foundation (Yellow Wellies), who organise Farm Safety Week, believes that the industry needs to address the attitude to risk-taking and poor safety behaviours. 

How to spot sepsis in adults: 

  • Slurred speech or confusion 
  • Extreme shivering or muscle pain 
  • Passing no urine (in a day) 
  • Severe breathlessness 
  • It feels like you are going to die 
  • Skin mottled or discoloured