NATIONAL DONATE LIFE BLUE & GREEN DAY
National Donate Life Blue & Green Day, observed annually in April, encourages us to wear blue and green to raise awareness about organ donation.
According to Donate Life America, nearly 124,000 people in the United States are awaiting some type of organ transplant. Organ donor registration is critical. There are many types of organ donation.
Deceased
Donors or their next of kin determine whether their organs will be donated at the time of their death.
Living
Some organs or tissue may be donated by a living donor. Types of organs and tissue donated include kidneys, liver and bone marrow.
Vascularized Composite Allografts (VCA)
This type of donation may not save a life, but can improve a patient’s quality of life. The types of tissue or organs donated include skin, muscles, nerves and other connective tissue.
Organ donation takes many forms, and there are teams of people involved to make donations happen. From family members supporting both donors and recipients to a broad network of advocates and medical professionals and specialists, a single donation requires a coordinated effort. According to Unos, one donor can save 8 lives, and every 10 minutes someone is added to the donor list.
You can register to be an organ donor in several ways. When you update your identification card, you can indicate your preference to be a donor. Another way to register is by visiting organdonor.gov. Finally, tell family and close friends about your decision. At the time of your death, one or more of your family members may be responsible for honoring your wishes.
HOW TO OBSERVE #DonateLifeBlueAndGreenDay
- Wear blue and green to help raise awareness.
- Donor organ recipients can share their experiences.
- Family members of donors can also share their experiences and honor a loved one who donated.
- When you do, use #DonateLifeBlueGreenDay to post on social media.
NATIONAL DONATE LIFE BLUE AND GREEN DAY HISTORY
Donate Life America founded Donate Life Blue & Green Day. For more information on their organization and organ donation visit their website at donatelife.net.
Donate FAQ
Q. How many people are registered donors?
A. In the United States, 169 million people are registered as donors according to organdonor.gov.
Q. Is there an organization that oversees organ donations?
A. United Network of Organ Sharing (UNOS) is a non-profit contracted by the U.S. federal government to coordinate the work of organ donation.
Q. How many lives are saved in one year?
A. In 2021, more than 40,000 transplants were performed. Donation numbers continue to increase, too.