Southern Indiana Residents Urged to 'Share the Love' by Registering as Donors

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

As Valentine's Day approaches, health officials in southern Indiana are encouraging residents to consider registering as organ, tissue, blood, and marrow donors. February 14th marks National Donor Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness about the lifesaving impact of donation. With over 100,000 Americans on the national transplant waiting list, officials are stressing the urgent need for more donors to help save lives.

Why it matters

Organ donation can save up to 8 lives per donor, while tissue donation can heal more than 75 people. However, on average, 17 people die every day waiting for a transplant that doesn't come in time. By encouraging residents to register as donors, officials hope to increase the donor pool and reduce the critical shortage of available organs, tissues, blood, and marrow.

The details

National Donor Day was established in 1998 and is intentionally scheduled on Valentine's Day to encourage families to have conversations about donation. Registering as a donor in Indiana can be done online, at the BMV when renewing a driver's license, or through the Health app on iPhones. Officials stress that even if someone is registered, the most important step is to inform their family of their decision, as this provides comfort during difficult times.

• National Donor Day is observed annually on February 14th.
• The OPTN Expeditious Task Force is working to achieve 60,000 successful deceased donor transplants annually by the end of 2026.

What’s next

Residents in southern Indiana can register as donors online, at the BMV, or through the Health app on their iPhones. The most important step is to inform their family of their decision.