Community Health · August 2025
Sepsis is the body's extreme, life-threatening response to an infection, and it is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. More than 1.7 million Americans are diagnosed with sepsis every year — one person every 20 seconds — yet an estimated 31% of U.S. adults have never even heard the word.
Helena Hospital's own Janice Pryor serves on the Arkansas Hospital Association (AHA) Quality Advisory Council, which recently released a Sepsis Toolkit for Public Awareness to help Arkansas hospitals and communities recognize the warning signs of sepsis and act quickly when every minute counts. We're proud to share that resource with our patients and neighbors here in the Arkansas Delta.
As many as 87% of sepsis cases begin outside the hospital — at home, at work, or in daily life — which makes community awareness one of the most powerful tools we have. Rapid diagnosis and treatment can save as many as 80% of patients in septic shock.
Why Sepsis Awareness Matters
Facts compiled by the Sepsis Alliance and the CDC, featured in the AHA Sepsis Toolkit.
1.7M+
Americans diagnosed with sepsis every year — one every 20 seconds
87%
Of sepsis cases originate in the community, not the hospital
80%
Of septic shock patients can be saved with rapid diagnosis and treatment
3rd
Leading cause of death in the U.S., with an estimated 350,000 adult deaths a year
Source: Sepsis Alliance, 2024; CDC — as cited in the AHA Sepsis Toolkit for Public Awareness, August 2025.
What's Inside the Sepsis Toolkit
Developed by the AHA Quality Advisory Council to help hospitals and communities across Arkansas talk about sepsis.
- Arkansas- and hospital-specific sepsis data and statistics
- Sepsis fact sheets covering maternal, pediatric, and aging populations
- CDC and Sepsis Alliance community education resources, including multi-language materials (Spanish and Marshallese)
- Patient tools on recognizing symptoms and starting the conversation with your care team
If you or a loved one shows signs of sepsis — such as fever, chills, rapid heart rate, confusion, or extreme pain or discomfort — seek medical attention immediately. Helena Hospital's Emergency Department is open 24/7.
Learn About Our Emergency ServicesDownload the Sepsis Toolkit
Get the full Arkansas Hospital Association Sepsis Toolkit for Public Awareness (August 2025), including fact sheets, patient tools, and community education resources.
Source: Arkansas Hospital Association Quality Advisory Council, Sepsis Toolkit for Public Awareness, August 2025.