The theatre team at the Sunshine Coast University Hospital supporting DonateLife Jersey Day.
Sunshine Coast Health and DonateLife Queensland are urging all Sunshine Coast residents to pull on a sports Jersey on Friday, September 1, to raise awareness for organ and tissue donation.
National ‘Jersey Day’ is a legacy of teenager Nathan Gremmo who donated his organs and tissues in 2015 at the age of just 13, saving the lives of six people – more information here www.jerseyday.com.au/about-nathan-gremmo
Donation Specialist Nurse Kirsty Caley said Jersey Day was the perfect ‘casual Friday’ and a great way to encourage your workmates to join the Australian Organ Donor Register.
“We know more than 80 per cent of Queenslanders are supportive of organ and tissue donation, yet only 31 percent have officially registered that decision,” she said.
“Jersey Day is a great opportunity to tap your colleagues on the shoulder and ask them if they’ve registered as an organ and tissue donor.”
Registering is easy, it only takes one minute of your time, and your Medicare card at donatelife.gov.au or 3 taps on your MyGov app.
“With around 1,800 Australians waiting for a life-saving organ transplant, and thousands more on dialysis who one day may need a kidney donation, it’s more important than ever to register and to tell your family” she said.
“One organ donor can save the lives of up to seven people and change the lives of many more through eye and tissue donation.”
Key messages:
- Only 7 million Australians are currently registered as organ and tissue donors. Based on support, that number should be closer to 16 million.
- And when it comes to those aged 16-24, only around 1 in 10 are registered.
- Transplant recipients come from different backgrounds, and experience different health issues, but they’re united in their gratitude for donors and their families.
- Don’t forget to tell your family you want to be a donor - someone’s life may depend on it.
- Your family will always be asked to support your decision before organ donation goes ahead. They are much more likely to agree if they know you want to be a donor.