CARE home staff have been given free sepsis training in a bid to help them spot residents they suspect could have the condition.

The number of care professionals that have completed Lancashire County Council's ongoing training programme passed the 280 mark this week.

County council chiefs said it was important that staff identified symptoms of sepsis promptly to ensure they are treated quickly.

Sepsis is the severe, life-threatening end of infection which happens when a person's immune system overreacts and damages the body’s tissues and organs.

Anyone is at risk of sepsis following an infection, but older people are at greater risk of the condition.

To coincide with Sepsis Awareness Month, the county council has been offering free training sessions for care home staff from both residential and nursing care homes.

Reducing the risk of infections, identifying the signs of sepsis early and referring residents to A&E using standardised reporting are some of the topics covered in the training.

County councillor Shaun Turner, cabinet member for public health and wellbeing, said: "Sepsis is triggered by other illnesses, such as lung and urinary tract infections and flu. It spreads through the blood and if it's not treated quickly, it can lead to a dramatic fall in blood pressure, organ failure and can be fatal.

"Older people, including care home residents, are at higher risk of developing sepsis so it's vital that care professionals have all the training and support they need to identify the condition.

"It's often difficult to detect sepsis as many of the symptoms are similar to other illnesses.

"We've developed training that ensures care home staff use a standardised way of reporting sepsis and give health services the information in a consistent way that helps them to treat cases urgently.

"Staff who have already taken part have found the training very useful."

Anyone is at risk of sepsis but those who are more at risk include children under one, adults over 60, people with weakened immune systems and those with long term conditions.

The symptoms of sepsis include being shivery, fever, and feeling hot and cold or clammy

Other signs include extreme lethargy, withdrawal, anxiety, new confusion or agitation, shortness of breath or breathing faster than usual and not passing urine in a day.