What organs and tissues can be donated after someone dies?
Organs that can be donated are the heart, lungs, liver, pancreas and kidneys.
Among the tissues that can be donated are corneas to restore sight, bone to prevent amputation, heart valves for children born with heart problems or adults with heart disease, tendons to replace damaged tissues in injured joints, and skin as a temporary covering to reduce pain and infection in burn victims. More than 25 people can benefit from a single donor.
Could organs mistakenly be taken from someone who might have recovered from their accident or medical problem?
Absolutely not. Organ donation is considered only after a person is legally dead. Machines allow the body to function for a short time during the transplant surgery, but there are no brain waves.
Who will receive the organs?
The donated organs will be transplanted into the people who need them most. A national computer system matches donated organs to those who need them the most according to a point system that considers how sick a person is, how long they have been on the waiting list, their blood type, body size an other information.
What can kids do?
Kids can let their parents and friends know that organ donation isn’t experimental. It happens every day. In Illinois, more than 5,000 people are waiting for an organ transplant. If kids think organ donation is a good idea and something they would consider doing, they should discuss it with their parents. Kids may want to visit the Secretary of State’s homepage to find out more about organ donation and take our organ donation quiz.
What can teachers do?
On a personal level, you can join the registry online, by calling 800-210-2106, or visiting your local Secretary of State facility.
For classroom use, you might want to play the video "The Nicholas Effect", about a 7-year-old boy from California who was killed while vacationing in Italy. The video includes footage of the boy at school and on vacation. His parents discuss their feelings. Videos for older students are also available. To borrow a video, or arrange for a speaker, call the Secretary of State’s Organ/Tissue Donor Program at 217-782-6258.
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