Sheriff's Office To Sponsor Organ Donation Education

Courtney Brummer

Staff Writer

February 13, 2004

More than 750,000 tissue transplants are performed each year in the United States, about 2,100 per day. Organ transplants are done at a rate of 60 per day.

It is estimated that one in 20 Americans will need some type of tissue transplant.

To help meet those needs, the Pottawattamie County Sheriff's Office is teaming up with the National Sheriffs' Association Gift of Life Foundation to further organ donation education.

The Gift of Life Foundation conducts the Ultimate Gift Campaign, which encourages sheriff's office employees throughout the country to become organ and tissue donors.

Participating offices distribute donor cards and bumper stickers for their patrol vehicles.

So far, the Ultimate Gift Campaign has distributed more than 80,000 donor cards and 16,000 bumper stickers to 280 sheriff's offices in 35 states.

Recently, the Pottawattamie County Sheriff's Office joined that number as it begins the program.

Tissue differs from organs in that it includes bone, skin, heart valves, connective tissue and veins used in surgeries and medical research. Organs include the heart, kidneys, intestines, pancreas and liver.

Because different organs and tissues can be recycled for donation, many people can be helped.

"It's a good program," said Sheriff Jeff Danker. "One person can live many other lives by being an organ and tissue donor."

The Gift of Life Foundation was founded in 1997 by Stephen M. Oelrich, the sheriff of Alachua County, Fla. His son, Nick, died in 1995 and the donation of his organs and tissue saved or enhanced the lives of 108 people.

As a result of his experience, Oelrich proposed the formation of the Gift of Life Foundation to the National Sheriffs' Association. The NSA then voted to establish the NSA Gift of Life Foundation.

Copyright © 2004 Daily Nonpareil.

This article posted March 11, 2004.