Project Presentation – How the German Sepsis Aid Is Supporting Sepsis Survivors in Germany
In June, we announced the winners of the 2019 Global Sepsis Awards. In addition to the five winners, nine other entities were commended for their valuable contribution in the global fight against sepsis.
Over the coming months, we will give both the 2019 GSA Award Winners as well as the activities and initiatives by the entities that were commended the possibility to share their projects and initiatives in more detail on our websites, and after our colleagues from Italy in June, the project “Stop Sepsis in Croatia” in July, and the ‘6th Annual Jeff Davis Sepsis Challenge 5K’ in September, we would like to introduce the German Sepsis Aid today.
The German Sepsis Aid
The German Sepsis Aid (Deutsche Sepsis-Hilfe e.V., DSH) was founded in 2007 and is the world's first association of sepsis patients and their relatives.
The DSH provides a unique platform for sepsis-survivors and their families to connect with each other, to share experiences, to find support, and to attend trainings. People who are aware of sepsis by own experience volunteer to give practical and psychosocial assistance and information, according to the principle of „sepsis patients help sepsis patients“.
The current number of members is 351. The DHS is a non-profit-organization, which is financed exclusively by donations, membership fees, and subsidies of health insurance companies.
The work of the DSH focuses on 4 main areas:
Support and Counseling for Patients, Relatives, and Surviving Relatives
Central to the work of the DSH is the "sepsis-hotline”, a phone-helpline that was set up for those who have questions about sepsis. The number is 0700 73774700 and can be reached daily between 08:00 and 21:00h. Those who have been affected by sepsis themselves have first-hand experience and can therefore give a good first response.
Additional inquiries are made by email or using the contact form on the DSH website, with the total number of requests exceeding 500 annually. Specific medical questions can be forwarded to physicians or a psychologist who volunteers for the DSH.
Currently, a network is being set up regarding certain long-term effects of sepsis. DSH members, who e.g. suffer from cognitive impairment or amputations, have agreed to be available as contact persons in case of specific physical harm.
Creation and Distribution of Information Materials
Upon request, the inquirers can receive detailed information material free of charge, e.g. the booklet “Informationen für Betroffene und Angehörige“ (Information for Patients and Relatives) which was edited by the DSH.
Educating the General Public and Creating Awareness
Another task of the association is to raise awareness for sepsis. Therefore, the DSH is present at numerous public events with an information booth. Furthermore, the DSH provides information on its homepage and its Facebook page. On request, the association is able to organize public training events on sepsis.
Support Services to Members of the DSH
Once a year, a meeting for all DSH members takes place. In addition to lectures and yearly reports, the two-day meeting will focus on the exchange between the members. Twice a year, members receive an exclusive newsletter.
The Global Sepsis Awards, which are sponsored by the Erin Kay Flatley Memorial Foundation, honor outstanding efforts to increase sepsis awareness and raise the quality of sepsis prevention and management.
The awards are granted in three categories, namely governments and healthcare authorities, non-governmental organizations, patient advocate or healthcare provider groups, and individuals, consistent with the aims of the World Sepsis Declaration and the World Sepsis Day Movement.
Winners in category II and III will receive $2,500 prize money each. Applications and nominations for the 2020 GSA Awards open in January 2020 and close on March 31st, 2020.