Plattsburgh, NY – Donning a cape could help save lives. Local “superheroes” are invited to join the University of Vermont Health Network – Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital (CVPH) in raising awareness about sepsis, an all-too-common and life-threatening medical emergency, on Thursday, Sept. 24, at 3 pm at the Circle of Healing on the hospital’s main campus. 

Sepsis can happen to anyone and most cases develop before a patient ever reaches the hospital. It can stem from common infections of the lungs, urinary tract, skin or digestive system. 

The CVPH Quality Care Team has planned the Superhero Walk for Sepsis Awareness to emphasize a simple but lifesaving message: know the signs of sepsis and act fast. 

Every minute matters. Sepsis occurs when the body's response to an infection spirals out of control, potentially leading to tissue damage, organ failure and death. Early recognition and treatment are critical to improving survival. 

It is a medical emergency that claims more lives each year than many cancers. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 1.7 million adults in the United States develop sepsis each year, and at least 350,000 die during hospitalization or are discharged to hospice. 

The TIME acronym is used to help remember sepsis symptoms:  

• Temperature: abnormally high or low 
• Infection: may have signs and symptoms of infection 
• Mental decline: confusion, excessive sleepiness or difficulty waking 
• Extremely ill: severe pain or discomfort, and shortness of breath 

While infants, older adults and people with chronic health conditions face a greater risk of developing sepsis, the Sepsis Alliance notes that anyone experiencing a combination of these symptoms should seek immediate medical attention. 

Costumes are encouraged and all are welcome to walk to promote sepsis awareness and learn how recognizing the early signs the body’s extreme response to infection can help save lives.

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About Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital
The University of Vermont Health Network - Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital (CVPH) is a private, not-for profit hospital in Plattsburgh, NY.  Established in 1967 with the merger of Champlain Valley and Physicians Hospitals, CVPH joined Fletcher Allen Partners in 2012, which in 2014 became The University of Vermont Health Network.  Together with its partner hospitals, the UVM Medical Group and a home health agency, CVPH provides high quality, cost effective care, close to home. Services include an award winning cardiac services program, accredited cancer center, freestanding ambulatory surgery center, comprehensive rehabilitation services and a 24 hour physician-staffed Emergency Department.  Governed by a 15-member Board of Directors, CVPH is accredited by the Joint Commission and licensed by New York State and Medicare/Medicaid Approved.  Learn more at UVMHealth.org/CVPH or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.       

About University of Vermont Health Network
The University of Vermont Health Network is an integrated system serving the residents of Vermont and northern New York with a shared mission: working together, we improve people’s lives. The partners are:

• University of Vermont Medical Center
• University of Vermont Health Network Medical Group
• University of Vermont Health Network – Alice Hyde Medical Center
• University of Vermont Health Network – Central Vermont Medical Center
• University of Vermont Health Network – Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital
• University of Vermont Health Network – Elizabethtown Community Hospital
• University of Vermont Health Network – Porter Medical Center
• University of Vermont Health Network – Home Health & Hospice

Our 4,000 health care professionals are driven to provide high-quality, cost-efficient care as close to home as possible. Strengthened by our academic connection to the University of Vermont, each of our affiliates remains committed to its local community by providing compassionate, personal care shaped by the latest medical advances and delivered by highly skilled experts.