National Donate Life Month (NDLM) is celebrated annually in April and was established by Donate Life America and its partnering organizations in 2003. According to the National Donate Life website the entire month of April features activities at the local, regional and national levels to promote and encourage people to register as organ, eye and tissue donors. It also celebrates those who have donated to save lives.
The following statistics can be found on the National Donate Life Month website:
- 114,000 men, women and children are waiting for lifesaving organ transplants.
- Every 10 minutes another person is added to the national transplant waiting list.
- 8,000 deaths occur annually in the U.S. due to organs not being donated in time.
- 22 people die every day because an organ they need is not donated in time.
- 82% of patients are waiting on a kidney.
- 1 out of 3 deceased donors is over age 50.
- If someone donates organs they can save up to 8 lives.
- If someone donates cornea’s it would restore sight to 2 people.
- If someone donates tissue it would heal the lives of 75 people.
- In 2018, 17,500 donors gifted life to recipients.
- 750,000 transplants have occurred since 1988.
- 95% of Americans support donation, but only 58% are registered.
NDLM Blue and Green Day is April 12, 2019 where the public is encouraged to wear blue and green and hold events to promote the success of donation.
National Pediatric Transplant Week is April 22-26, 2019 and focuses on ending the need for a pediatric transplant waiting list.
For more information about donation, information found in this article and how to register to become a donor please visit the NDLM website at: www.donatelife.net