Newswise — The Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) is joining with 17 other leading non-profit health organizations and more than 200 participating Saturn retailers in a nationwide effort to save lives by encouraging blood and organ donation during National Donor Day, February 14, 2004. This one day event is aimed at raising awareness of and encouraging the donation of blood, bone marrow, organ, and tissue donations.
"Giving someone else the gift of life is the most valuable gift you can give," said Mary Ellen Wilson, RN, MS, FNP, CEN, 2004 ENA President. "Life is more precious to our patients than the most valuable diamond. By donating, you can ensure that someone's loved one will be here to see next year's Valentine's Day. We hope this year's National Donor Day will be the most productive ever " and we are counting on the public to make someone's dreams a reality."
Saturn, its United Auto Workers partners and the participating organizations are encouraging people to incorporate donation into their Valentine's Day celebration. At the more than 200 Saturn dealers nationwide, people can donate blood or pledge to donate blood, be added to the National Marrow Donor Program Registry, and/or complete an organ and tissue donation pledge card. Pledge cards will be available at all Saturn retail facilities on Saturn National Donor Day. Cards can also be obtained by calling 800-553-6670.
The Facts* Over 80,000 patients are currently awaiting a life-saving organ transplant.* An average of 18 people die each day because there are not enough organs available to meet the need. * Each year, approximately 30,000 patients in the United States will be diagnosed with life threatening diseases like leukemia, which are treatable by a marrow or blood stem cell transplant. Two-thirds these patients will not find a donor match within their family. * Although 60 percent of Americans are eligible to give blood, only 5 percent donate. * The need for a transplant is disproportionately high among minority populations, increasing the need for minority donors.
Saturn National Donor Day PartnersAmerican Association of Blood BanksAmerican Liver FoundationAmerican Society of Transplant SurgeonsAmerica's Blood CentersAssociations of Organ Procurement OrganizationsChildren's Organ Transplant AssociationCoalition on DonationEmergency Nurses AssociationJuvenile Diabetes Research Foundation InternationalLeukemia & Lymphoma SocietyLifeSouth Community Blood CentersThe Marrow FoundationNational Marrow Donor ProgramNational Minority Organ Tissue Transplant Education ProgramSaturn CorporationUnited Auto WorkersUnited States Department of Health and Human Servicecs
The Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) is the only professional nursing association dedicated to defining the future of emergency nursing and emergency care through advocacy, expertise, innovation, and leadership. Founded in 1970, ENA serves as the voice of more than 23,000 members and their patients through research, publications, professional development, injury prevention, and patient education. Additional information is available at ENA's Web site, at http://www.ena.org.
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