The NHS has urged people to trust their instincts and go to hospital straight away if they suspect sepsis, as five people die every hour in the UK from the life-threatening condition. The warning came as the Environment Agency issued a flood alert for five London postcodes near the River Thames, warning of possible flooding early on Thursday.
Sepsis occurs when the body's reaction to an infection begins to damage its own tissues and organs, causing the immune system to go into overdrive. It is a potentially fatal response requiring immediate hospital treatment. In a recent post on X, the NHS said: "It can be hard to spot, so make sure you know the symptoms." Symptoms in adults include blue, pale, grey or blotchy skin, lips or tongue; difficulty breathing, acting confused, slurred speech or not making sense; a high or low temperature – though high temperature is less common in older adults; and not peeing all day or peeing very little in the past 18 hours. For children, symptoms include blue, pale, grey or blotchy skin, lips or tongue; difficulty breathing or breathing very fast; a rash that does not fade when pressed; being sleepier than normal or difficult to wake; and not peeing for 12 hours (babies and children under 5) or all day (children over 5). The NHS added: "If you or someone else has symptoms of sepsis, call 999 or go to A&E. Trust your instincts."
“NHS urges immediate hospital visits for sepsis as five die hourly; flood alert for five London postcodes near Thames.”
Meanwhile, the Environment Agency warned that high tides on Thursday morning may lead to flooding in west London. The alert, posted on Wednesday, said flooding is possible from 2:45am to 6:45am on July 16, with the forecast high tide at Richmond at 4.60 mAOD at 4:45am. Postcodes at risk are SW14, SW15, TW1, TW9, and W4. Specific locations include Putney Embankment (SW15), Chiswick Mall and Strand on the Green (W4), Thames Bank at Mortlake (SW14), Ranelagh Drive (TW1), Friars Lane and Water Lane (TW9), Riverside and The Embankment at Twickenham, and the Towpath below Teddington Lock. The agency said flooding of properties is not expected but urged commuters to avoid walking, cycling or driving through flood water. "Astronomical tide levels are rising," the alert said. "The river flow at Teddington Weir is 10 cubic metres per second and is steady. We anticipate the flows to remain steady for the next few days. We are closely monitoring the situation." The flood zone largely follows the Thames from Putney Bridge to Teddington, covering parts of Teddington, Richmond, Isleworth, Brentford, Chiswick, Barnes, Fulham, and Putney near the river, as well as tributaries including the River Crane and River Brent.