Sepsis is a life-threatening medical emergency that occurs when the body’s response to an infection becomes uncontrolled, causing widespread inflammation, tissue damage, organ failure, and, without rapid treatment, death. Affecting hundreds of thousands of people in the UK and millions globally every year, sepsis remains one of the most urgent challenges in modern healthcare. Early recognition and immediate action are the key factors that determine survival. This comprehensive online course provides an accessible, evidence-based introduction to sepsis for healthcare professionals, carers, students, and anyone wanting the confidence to identify and respond to sepsis effectively. With current pressures across the healthcare system, it can be difficult to maintain training and stay up to date — this course offers a practical solution. Learn from home, at work, or on the go, at a pace that suits you, with unlimited lifetime access to video lessons, written content, and downloadable support materials. We begin by exploring what sepsis is, how it develops within the body, and why it progresses so quickly. You will learn about the body’s immune response, including the phenomenon known as the cytokine storm, to understand how sepsis can escalate into septic shock. We then examine the epidemiology and demographics behind sepsis, revealing the stark global and UK statistics that highlight its deadly impact and why urgent awareness is essential. A significant focus of this course is on recognising the signs of sepsis early. You will learn how sepsis presents differently in adults, children, babies and toddlers under five, and older adults — groups in which symptoms can be subtle, atypical, or easily missed. Using established clinical frameworks and red-flag indicators, the course teaches you how to identify symptoms, understand levels of risk, and take the right steps when sepsis is suspected. Treatment principles, including the “Sepsis Six,” rapid antibiotic therapy, fluid resuscitation, monitoring, and escalation of care, are explained clearly and simply. You will also learn about risk stratification: who is most vulnerable, why certain groups decline faster, and how to make informed decisions about urgent intervention. The course concludes with guidance on immediate actions — what to do in the crucial minutes when sepsis is first suspected. Whether you are in a healthcare setting, a care home, or caring for a loved one in the community, you will gain practical skills to recognise early deterioration and act swiftly. By the end of this course, you will have the understanding and confidence to identify sepsis early, escalate appropriately, and contribute to saving lives.