The Rory Staunton Foundation has announced the Second National Forum on Sepsis as part of Sepsis Awareness Month.  

The forum will be held on September 16 in Washington, D.C.

The Rory Staunton Foundation supports education and outreach efforts aimed at rapid diagnosis and treatment of sepsis, particularly in children. The organization was founded by Ciaran and Orlaith Staunton of Queens, NY, in honor of their son, Rory Staunton, who died at age 12 from sepsis in 2012.  

Sepsis is an extremely serious condition caused by the body’s overwhelming immune response to infection. A minor cut, scrape or bug bit can set off the reaction. Sepsis occurs when chemicals released into the bloodstream to fight the infection trigger inflammation that can damage multiple organ systems, causing them to fail.  The condition kills at least 750,000 people every year and is the leading pediatric killer worldwide.

According to a press release, the forum will bring together leaders from the government, nonprofit, and healthcare sectors to discuss actions being taken to tackle this public health crisis and to launch new initiatives in the fight against sepsis.