Independence Health System celebrates Donate Life Month
Nationally, more than 100,000 people are waiting for an organ transplant, including 2,500 people in Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia according to organdonor.gov
Additional, at least 20 will die each day without receiving the transplant they need. Someone is added to the transplant waiting list every 10 minutes.
To promote the importance of organ donation, Independence Health System through its member hospitals will hold public flag-raising ceremonies Friday, April 5 in the Westmoreland area at Frick, Latrobe and Westmoreland hospitals and on April 10 in the Clarion area at Clarion Hospital.
The health system also will engage in several internal activities, including the observance of Blue and Green Day on April 12, during which people are encouraged to wear blue and green to raise awareness of organ donation. Also, a unit specific flag raising will take place April 16 in the Butler Memorial Hospital intensive care unit.
Important facts about organ, tissue and cornea donation:
- Anyone can be a potential donor regardless of age, race or medical history.
- With more than 90,000 people across the nation awaiting a kidney, it is the organ in greatest demand, followed by liver, heart and lungs.
- Because conditions such as diabetes and hypertension are often more prevalent in the multicultural community, these individuals make up more than 50% of those on the national organ transplant list.
Individuals are encouraged to talk with family members and friends about registering as a donor. One organ donor can save up to eight lives and a tissue donor can improve the lives of more than 100 others. To sign up, visit core.org/register.
