‘Video saved my daughter from sepsis’
AWIDNES mum has praised a health awareness video which saved her daughter’s life from sepsis.
Amber Mullally faced every parents’ worse nightmare when her 14-month-old daughter Annabella became ill in the early hours of the morning.
Amber had recently watched a video that was promoted during a national health campaign in July.
She was convinced Annabella’s symptoms could be the early stages of the potentially fatal condition sepsis.
Amber took her daughter to their nearest A&E department, who confirmed it was sepsis.
Her swift thinking, on the back of video’s advice, saved Annabella’s life.
Amber said: “For any parents like me, I was worried I was causing a fuss over nothing, but went with my gut instinct after watching the video.
“If I hadn’t of watched the video, I wouldn’t of known what was wrong.
“It made me aware straight away this could be sepsis.
“Thank you for the video; it really helped my Annabella and I’m sure it will save many more lives.”
The was co-created by researchers from the University Of Northampton which included associate professor in children’s nursing Sarah Neill.
She and professor Monica Lakhanpaul, from University College London, are both part of the research group called Acutely Sick Kids Safety Netting Interventions For Families and with Dr Lauren Fraser at the Health Innovation Network.
The video was funded by NHS England along with a second video on how to look after a child with fever.
Associate professor Neill said: “This is such wonderful news. I’m very happy to hear that Annabella is doing well and that the video my ● research team and I helped create pointed Amber in the right direction.
“We know it can be difficult for parents to tell if their child is seriously ill and, if so, what to do next but this story shows that one video can make a huge difference in helping them.
“We know it isn’t always easy to ask a doctor to see your child, especially if they were seen earlier in the day, but children can deteriorate very quickly so it is important to know the symptoms and to have the courage, like Amber did, to ask ‘Could this be sepsis?
“We hope other parents have a chance to see the videos we have made, bookmark them and share them with their friends and family.”