Each April, we wear blue and green to celebrate “Donate Life Month.” Donate Life Month encourages Americans to register as organ, eye and tissue donors and to celebrate those who have saved lives through the gift of donation.
There are more than 113,000 men, women and children awaiting a lifesaving transplant in the U.S. alone and about 8,000 of them will die each year just because organs are not donated in time.
- Nationally, 36,528 transplants were performed in 2018
- Every 10 minutes – another person is added to the transplant waiting list
- 20 – number of people who die daily awaiting an organ donation
- 83 percent – the number of patients waiting for a kidney
- 12 percent – patients awaiting a liver donation
Why register as an organ donor?
One person who becomes an organ donor can save up to eight lives by donating their organs or enhance the lives of as many as 50 patients as a tissue donor.In 2018, 17,500 donors brought life to those awaiting transplant. Over the last three decades, more than 750,000 lifesaving transplants have taken place. While 95 percent of U.S. adults support organ donation, only 58 percent are signed up.
There are two ways to do register as an organ donor – online or in person at your local motor vehicle department. All you need is your driver’s license or photo ID number and you can sign up to save lives.
It only takes a few minutes so click here to find out how.! Click here to learn more about the organ and tissue donation registry.
