MENINGITIS and septicaemia can kill in hours.

Meningitis Research Foundation is therefore launching an Awareness Campaign to 'Manage the Minutes'.

Because early diagnosis and prompt treatment of meningitis and septiceamia provide the best chances for a good recovery, it is important that precious minutes are not wasted.

Meningitis Research Foundation is therefore arranging for a specially designed resource pack to go into creches and nurseries all over the UK and Republic of Ireland prompting the three A's.

Aware: know the symptoms;

Alert: is the person becoming worse rapidly;

Act: get medical help immediately.

The number of reported cases of meningococcal disease - meningitis and septicaemia has been increasing in the UK since the mid-1999's with more cases in 1997 than in any other year since the 2nd World War - a 50 year peak.

This is a disease which mainly affects babies and young children and in the UK kills more children between the ages of 1-4 than any other single factor.

Rick and Rachel Saunders from Runcorn said: "Our daughter Molly contracted meningitis and septicaemia two-and-a-half years ago when she was just 14 months old and tragically died.

"We know how this disease can devastate a family and we are therefore giving our full support to the Meningitis Research Foundations Awareness Campaign.

"It is so important that the public are aware of the signs and symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia as no time should be lost in the diagnosis and treatment of this terrible disease."

Until an effective vaccine, which will eradicate meningitis and septicaemia, can be introduced into the childhood vaccination programme, being aware of the symptoms, alert to the condition of the person who is ill and acting quickly to get medical help will help in managing the minutes and hopefully save lives.

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