I encourage everyone to register to be an organ donor. It literally takes less than a minute and can save or help up to 75 people (Donate Life America)! In this post, I will show you how.
Why should you register to be an organ donor
- According to the Health Resources and Services Administration, there are currently 113,000 people waiting for a transplant.
- According to Donate Life America, 22 people die every day because they do not receive the organ they need.
- And let me say it once again: you can save or help up to 75 people!
Common concerns:
I have _______ illness/disease, or I am too old to donate
Register regardless of medical health. Some organs may not be viable, but others might be. What organs or tissues are eligible for donation will be determined at the time of your death.
Will I get worse medical care when the medical community finds out I am an organ donor?
Of course not! This is a ridiculous claim. Doctors are committed to saving their patients. Besides, the transplant team is separate from the medical team that is trying to save your life (Health Resources and Services Administration).
This will interfere with my burial plans
According to the Center for Organ Recovery and Education, an open casket is still possible with organ donation.
How to register to be an organ donor:
There are two modes of registration:
1. Through your state
The first (and probably most heard of) is through your state. You can do this easily at the DMV or online here.
What you need:
- Less than a minute
- Your driver’s license or identification card number. It is right at the top of the card (LIC NO.).
2. Donate Life America
The second is through donatelife.net, which is a national database. You can do this through the Health app on your iPhone or online here.
What you need:
- Less than a minute
Seriously, it is that easy. I actually timed it.
46 seconds! And I was trying to take my time (writing out everything instead of using autofill).
Registering to be an organ donor is quick, easy, and life-saving! There is no reason not to do this. If you haven’t registered yet, go register now!
