Wednesday, January 21, 2009

WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE'RE DOING

While 90% of people say they support organ and tissue donation, only about half have signed up to be donors.

Why?

Ohio Northern University public relations students and their student-run firm, Vision Communications, have taken DoItNowOhio.org's challenge to create and improve awareness of the importance of tissue and organ donors in our local area. Throughout a series of events and promotional learning opportunities, ONU's DoItNowOhio team plans to reach their individual competition goal of 3,778 new registered donors.

Why is this important?
  • Currently, 2,172 people in Ohio are waiting for a kidney transplant due to end-stage renal failure.
  • On any given day in Ohio, nearly 3,000 people are waiting for an organ transplant.
  • A single donor can save up to eight lives through organ donation and improve the lives of up to 50 people through tissue donation.

How Does It Work?

A statewide database of Ohioans, known as the Ohio Donor Registry, collects the names of those who wish to become an organ or tissue donor upon their death. Most encounter this program while renewing their driver's license at their local Bureau of Motor Vehicles office. When Ohio residents sign-up to become potential donors they give first person consent for a donation at the time of death. Organs are matched to recipients through the United Network for Organ Sharing. Donors and recipients are paired solely on medical criteria to ensure equal treatment and that the organ goes to the person who needs it most.

How Can You Help?

Wanna Do It...
...Do It Now!
Visit www.doitnowohio.org/onu and sign-up today!!

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