Organ Donor Week Is April 24-30

Town employees are expected to receive their organ donor cards this week in recognition of National Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness Week April 24-30.

Across the state, the Connecticut Coalition for Organ & Tissue Donation is attempting to create public awareness on the importance of organ donation.

Here are some basic facts:

-In Connecticut, 566 men, women and children were on waiting lists as of January 1, 1999 hoping for an organ to become available – an increase of more than 10 percent over the previous year.

-Approximately 21,000 are awaiting kidney transplants.

-Over 60,000 Americans are currently listed on the national transplant waiting list.

-One person is added to the waiting list every 16 minutes.

-Twelve people die everyday waiting for organs that never become available.

Earlier this week, First Selectman Herb Rosenthal filled out a donor card for himself. It was a ceremonial move only in that Mr Rosenthal was already registered as a donor. The first selectman is encouraging municipal employees and town residents to do the same.