Facts You Should Know about Organ Donation How you can help make a life-saving difference

What’s covered in this presentation • • • • • Organ donation at a glance Who can donate How to register to be a donor Online Education Print Materials

The need is great.

• • • Current national shortage of organ donors Over 96,000 people on the waiting list for life-saving transplants African American and Hispanic donors especially needed

Thousands in Texas need help.

• 7,000+ Texans currently need new organs • At least one person in Texas dies every day waiting for a transplant • Greatest need is for kidneys

Almost anyone can be a donor.

• Organs and tissues accepted from babies to senior citizens • Medical professionals decide whether organs, tissues and eyes are suitable for donation at time of death

One person can help many.

• Organs from just one individual can help as many as eight people.

• One person’s tissues can make life better for as many as 50 people.

The system for assigning organs is fair.

• • Strict guidelines in place Severity of illness, length of time on waiting list, blood type and other matching factors considered • Race, gender, age, income and celebrity status not relevant

Texans can now officially register to be an organ donor. • • • Glenda Dawson Donate Life – Texas Registry is state’s official list of donors Operated by Department of State Health Services Best way to ensure wishes will be carried out

Registering to be an organ donor is simple and easy.

• • Sign up online at any time Sign up when applying for or renewing driver license • Sign up process takes less than five minutes

Online registration is FAST. ill out the online form.

confirmation letter requiring donor’s signature and that of two witnesses arrives in about 10 days.

ign and send the letter back in the postage-paid envelope provided.

ell your family about your decision to donate.

Registering at DPS office is even faster.

• Individual fills out paper form (for now) • Paper form to be replaced by electronic form in early 2008 • Individual receives donor card in mail in about 10 days • No further action required by donor

Individuals can donate a dollar for the program. Texas organ donor registry program supported by voluntary donations • $1 when applying for or renewing driver license • $1 when renewing vehicle registration

Learn more about organ donation.

• • • • Myths and facts about organ donation Frequently asked questions Online sign-up form English and Spanish content www.DonateLifeTexas.org

www.DoneVidaTexas.org

Online Education: www.OrganDonorEd.com

•Free access •In-depth, structured lessons covering organ, tissue and eye donation •

CEU Credit

for doctors, nurses, and social workers

Print Materials Free to order and free shipping Find out more at: www.dshs.state.tx.us/organdonation