Los Alamos Reporter

Motor Vehicle Division Celebrates National Donate Life Month

MVD NEWS

The New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division is recognizing National Donate Life Month in April and encouraging New Mexicans to become organ donors when they obtain or renew their driver’s licenses.

 “Signing up to potentially save a life is as easy as checking a box,” said Taxation and Revenue Department Secretary Stephanie Schardin Clarke. “When you apply for your New Mexico license or renew one, you’ll be given the option to register as an organ donor.”

 The option to sign up as an organ donor is the second question on the New Mexico driver’s license application.  People of all ages and medical histories are encouraged to register.

A total of 939,709 New Mexicans with driver’s licenses or state-issued identification cards are registered as donors. Out of 136,000 people issued credentials this year through March 31, 74,540 chose to become organ donors. That gives New Mexico a Donor Designation Rate of around 55 percent, well above the national average of 47 percent.

So far this year, 30 people have become donor heroes in New Mexico and 63 life-saving organs have been transplanted in New Mexico, but another 699 people are still awaiting organ transplants, according to New Mexico Donor Services. One donor alone can save the lives of up to eight people and enhance the loves of up to 75 people as a tissue donor.

Signing up while obtaining or renewing a driver’s license is the most common way for people to register as donors in New Mexico. People also can register online at registerme.org.

 “The New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division is a crucial partner in registering organ, eye and tissue donors. In fact, approximately 97% of those who have registered their first-person authorization to be a donor signed up at the NM MVD,” states Wayne Dunlap, executive director of New Mexico Donor Services. “Nearly 1 million people in our state have registered their decision to Be The Gift as organ, eye and tissue donors. During Donate Life Month and throughout the year, we appreciate the work of the NM MVD to help us save and improve lives through organ, eye and tissue donation.” 

Observed in April each year, National Donate Life Month encourages Americans to register as organ, eye and tissue donors and to honor those that have saved lives through the gift of donation.