A CRITICAL NEED FOR ORGAN, EYE AND TISSUE DONORS
Nearly 100,000 men, women and children are waiting for organs for transplantation in the United States (kidneys, livers, hearts, lungs, pancreas and intestines). Of these, more than 8,000 are in New York State, and approximately 7,000 of them live in the greater New York metropolitan area (the area served by the New York Organ Donor Network).
Thousands more need eyes and tissues such as heart-valves, skin and bone.
One organ donor can save up to eight lives. One tissue donor can save or improve the quality of life for up to 50 people. But nationwide, only 59 percent of the families asked about organ donation consent. [Source: HRSA/ National Breakthrough Collaborative.] The organ donation consent rate in the greater New York metropolitan area in 2006 was 56%.
Each day, an average of 17 people who are waiting for organs in the United States, die because no organs could be found for them. This means that each year, more than 6,000 people die in the United States waiting for organ transplants.
Every 13 minutes, a new name is added to the national waiting list for organs in the United States.
CONSIDER THESE STAGGERING FACTS...
There are 13 million people in the greater New York metropolitan area, the region served by the New York Organ Donor Network.
Yet, each year, there are only approximately 600 potential, medically suitable deceased organ donors in the region, based on brain-death criteria.*
In 2006, a year in which there was a record number of organ donors, there were still only 319 deceased organ donors … a 56% authorization (consent) rate.
This means that last year, 46 of those approached for organ donation said “no.” With such a small pool of donors, any “yes” is a huge “yes.” Any “no” is a devastating “no.”
At the same time, on any given day, there are nearly 7,000 people on the organ transplant waiting list in the greater New York metropolitan area alone. Many die waiting because no organs could be found in time.
In addition, there are thousands of people waiting for eyes and tissues such as skin, bone, and heart-valves.
- Enroll online right now in the New York State Donor Registry by clicking here.
- Be sure to tell your family (next of kin) that you have decided to DONATE LIFE.
* Excludes organ donors from cardiac death and living donors.
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