Emergency Department charge nurse Monica Griffiin takes a moment to register online for the 'Be A Donor' organ and tissue campagin at www.beadonor.ca/kgh8
Credit
Matthew Manor
Just because you've signed your organ donor card doesn't mean it's official. That's why the Trillium Gift of Life Network and Kingston General Hospital are encouraging everyone to register online instead.
"Once you've registered electronically, a record of your wishes will be kept by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care so it will always be available to healthcare teams and your family," says Susan Warr, Trillium's Organ and Tissue Donation Coordinator at KGH.
This week is National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week (April 22 to 28) and KGH is participating by supporting The Gift of 8 Movement - a provincial campaign highlighting the important message that one organ donor can save up to eight lives.
"Gift of 8 is a new online way for people and organizations to learn about the benefits of organ donation and to encourage friends, family and colleagues to register," says Warr.
KGH has set up a special online donor page - Beadonor.ca/kgh8 - where you can register yourself as an organ and tissue donor, or check to make sure your registration information is up-to-date.
"Each time somebody clicks on the 'Register Now' button on the KGH page it counts," says Krista Wood, Emergency Room Coordinator. "We're hoping to do as well as Queen's University did during its recent Gift of 8 campaign and beat our goal of 500 clicks."
Along with helping people register, Warr also hopes the campaign will raise awareness about the work KGH is doing to support organ and tissue donation.
Last year, 13 donors at KGH helped save a total of 41 lives.
"It's important for people to think seriously about registering their consent to donate as opportunities for organ donation are relatively rare, yet the impact is life-saving," says Warr.
The Beadonor.ca website also highlights how Kingston's organ donor registration rates compare to other cities and regions across the province and it shares stories of personal motivation. At the moment, Kingston is in 25th spot with a donor registration rate of 39 per cent of eligible Ontario health card holders.
If you have any questions about the Trillium Gift of Life Network, click here to check out their website.
Gallery
Emergency Department physician Dr. Ian Ball rips up an old donor card as part of The Gift of 8 Movement which is encouraging people at KGH to register online as potential donors.
Emergency Department charge nurse Monica Griffiin takes a moment to register online for the 'Be A Donor' organ and tissue campagin at www.beadonor.ca/kgh8
