September is National Sepsis Awareness Month, and the Indiana Hospital Association (IHA) is spreading the word about the potentially deadly response to an infection. Sepsis claims more than 258,000 lives in the United States each year, according to Sepsis Alliance.

Sepsis is the body's overwhelming and potentially life-threatening response to an infection. It can lead to tissue damage, organ failure and even death. Sepsis can occur even after a minor infection. Approximately 3,500 Hoosiers die from sepsis each year, according to the 2015 IHA Inpatient Discharge Study.

IHA is partnering with hospitals across the state to create reliable systems of care to prevent the risk of sepsis. On World Sepsis Day, Sept. 13, IHA and its partners will Rally Against Sepsis to encourage Hoosiers to join in this fight. Governor Pence has also declared this day Sepsis Awareness Day in Indiana.

"Sepsis is a public health issue and not just a hospital problem," said Doug Leonard, president of the Indiana Hospital Association. "We want hospital staff, patients and the community to better understand what it is and what to do if they suspect sepsis."

IHA says hospital staff, patients and the community should know the warning signs of sepsis, which include:

• Shivering, fever, very cold
• Extreme pain
• Pale or discolored skin
• Sleepy, difficult to wake up, confused
• I feel like I might die
• Shortness of breath

For more information about sepsis, be sure to follow #SurviveSepsis on social media throughout the week. For more information about Sepsis Awareness Month, visit SurviveSepsis.com.