National Donor Day
National Donor Day, also known as National Organ Donor Day, is observed annually on February 14. There are currently over 120,000 Americans on the waitlist for a life-saving organ transplant. National Donor Day raises awareness about this and how signing up to be an organ donor can save so many lives. This is also a day to honor all the hero donors who have saved countless lives by donating their organs, tissues, blood, and marrow. This is truly the ultimate act of love and support for fellow humans in need.
Background
The Saturn Corporation (an American Automobile Manufacturing company), together with the United Auto Workers, founded National Donor Day in 1998. This was supported by the United States Department of Health and Human Services and other health organizations.
The aim was to encourage people to discuss organ donation and convince them to sign up as blood and organ donors to help people in America who require transfusions and transplants.
Most organ donors are dead at the time of donation, but that doesn't mean they're not heroes. By signing up as organ donors, they are ensuring someone at risk can live a long and healthy life. There can also be living donors for things such as blood, marrow, tissue, and some organs. Living donation usually involves extensive testing, including psychological evaluations. As a living donor, you can live with the knowledge that you have saved someone's life. What is better than that?
Depending on the age and other factors, a blood donor can donate on average one pint of blood every 53 days. This one pint can save around three people. Provided you meet all the requirements, anyone can register as a blood donor or donate blood at blood drives. As an organ donor, it is possible to save 8 people or heal around 75 lives. And signing up to be a donor couldn't be easier!
How to sign up as an Organ Donor
- When you're applying for or renewing your driver's license tick the "yes" box for organ donation. Alternatively, you can visit the DMV website.
- Register as a donor with your state's registry by visiting the Donate Life America website or organdonor.gov.
It is important to note that even if you register as a donor, you always have the right to change your mind.
You will be given a donor card, but you don't have to carry it with you all the time as you will be registered with your state. As you are registered, you may be asked to be a living donor if the system finds you are compatible with someone in need of a transplant.
How to Observe National Donor Day
If you have been thinking about registering as an organ donor, National Donor Day is the time to do it. You can also have a conversation with your family and friends to encourage them to register as organ donors too. Let them know about the impact organ donors can have in saving people's lives.
While you're at it, share information about organ donation on social media using the hashtags #SharetheLove and #StarttheConversation.
Join one of the many events taking place around the country on National Donor Day, such as the blood and bone marrow drives, or the Donor Dash, a 5k run/walk that raises funds for organ transplants and honors donors and those who are waiting for transplants.
