Groovin' to Keep Louisiana 'Stayin Alive' in Organ Donation

NEW ORLEANS, June 4 /PRNewswire/ -- In an effort to increase organ donation in Louisiana, celebrate the gift of life, and reach a diverse audience, New Orleans based Ochsner Health System has released a disco video with a pop culture appeal – costumed organs and real-life transplant recipients dancing around New Orleans landmarks to the Bee Gee's hit song Stayin' Alive. The goal of the video is to increase the LOPA organ donor registry by 6,000 over the next 6 months. The video, titled Save Nine, as every person who becomes an organ donor can potentially save nine other lives, is live on www.ochsner.org/savenine.

Ochsner asks the public to join this life-saving effort by simply viewing the video at www.ochsner.org/savenine then registering to become an organ donor.

"Organ donors are true heroes who've saved and enhanced lives through organ, eye and tissue donation. In order to reach and educate a broader audience on the impact of their choices, Ochsner chose to take an unconventional approach and get the public's attention," explains Dr. Ana Hands, Director of International Health and Transplant Services, Ochsner Health System.

Dr. Hands explains, "If 6,000 additional residents registered to become a donor, more than 54,000 lives could be saved or enhanced – the impact is tremendous and it only takes a few minutes to register."  One organ donor can save up to nine lives, and one tissue donor can enhance the lives of 50 individuals.

If more people became donors - patients, hospitals, and transplant centers around the world will have a greater opportunity to save and enhance more lives. "A better understanding of organ donation is needed to make this choice more comfortable and gratifying," says Hands. Below are facts that dispel many of the most common transplant myths:

Fact: When you're in the hospital, saving your life is the number one priority of doctors and nurses.

Fact: Even if you're under 18, you can make your wish to become a donor known to a parent or guardian.

Fact: There is no defined age for organ donation; organ function instead of age is evaluated at the time of death.

Fact: Organ donation is consistent with the beliefs of most religions.

SOURCE Ochsner Health System