U.S. Census Bureau Encourages Organ and Tissue Donation

April is Donate Life Month in the U.S. and the Census Bureau is using their vast resources to encourage organ and tissue donation.

WASHINGTON, April 17, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

SUNDAY, APRIL 17: DONATING LIFE

Profile America — Sunday, April 17th. April is a month of spring and resurgence. It's also National Donate Life month — a time to consider organ donation to give a new lease on life to someone in need. The purpose of the observance is to encourage organ and tissue donation, and to sign a donor card when getting a driver's license. Each day, it's estimated that more than 70 people are given a chance to extend their lives by transplant operations. However, 18 others die every day because of a shortage of donations. Nearly 110,000 people are on waiting lists for donated organs to save them from certain death. Transplant operations have become very successful, with the one year survival rate for some procedures as high as 98 percent. You can find these and more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at www.census.gov.

Sources: Chase's Calendar of Events 2011, p. 199
www.organdonor.gov

Statistical Abstract of the United States 2011, t. 177

Profile America is produced by the Public Information Office of the U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments, ready to air, on a monthly CD or on the Internet at www.census.gov (look for "Multimedia Gallery" by the "Newsroom" button).

SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau

RELATED LINKS
www.census.gov

“You Have the Power to Save Lives – Register to be an organ and tissue donor & Tell Your Loved Ones of Your Decision”

Register to be a donor in Ontario at Trillium Gift of Life Network NEW for Ontario: recycleMe.org - Learn The Ins & Outs Of Organ And Tissue Donation. Register Today!
For other Canadian provinces click here

In the United States, be sure to find out how to register in your state at ShareYourLife.org or Download Donor Cards from OrganDonor.Gov

In Great Britain, register at NHS Organ Donor Register

In Australia, register at Australian Organ Donor Register

Your generosity can save or enhance the lives of up to fifty people with heart, kidneys, liver, lungs, pancreas and small intestine transplants (see allotransplantation). One tissue donor can help by donating skin, corneas, bone, tendon, ligaments and heart valves

Has your life been saved by an organ transplant? "Pay it forward" and help spread the word about the need for organ donation - In the U.S. another person is added to the national transplant waiting list every 11 minutes and 18 people die each day waiting for an organ or tissue transplant. Organs can save lives, corneas renew vision, and tissue may help to restore someone's ability to walk, run or move freely without pain. Life Begins with You