Working together, making a difference every day POPS Project Organ and Tissue Donation

Non-profit Donation Agencies The Northwest Tissue Center is the community-sponsored tissue bank that serves Washington, Montana, and northern Idaho. The program depends on the generous contributions made by families after the death of a loved one. We are nonprofit and AATB accredited. The donated human tissue we provide improves the quality of life for transplant recipients - preventing amputation, restoring mobility, relieving pain, and saving lives in the Northwest. The Tissue Center works to provide safe, high quality bone, tendons, skin grafts, veins and heart valves, and are committed to the support of our donor families and maintaining the highest standards of tissue banking for the communities we serve.

Non-profit Donation Agencies Northwest Lions Eye Bank serving Washington, northern Idaho, Alaska and Montana is dedicated to improving the level of eye care given to the citizens of the Pacific Northwest through transplantation, teaching and research while supporting the heroic generosity of donor families and promoting public and professional education related to organ and tissue donation. The Northwest Lions Eye Bank is non-profit and accredited by the EBAA. For Isaac, a cornea transplant provided the gift of sight and hope for a bright future.

Why is the Washington State Patrol involved?  When a patient dies in a hospital, the hospital is federally required to notify an organ/tissue donation agency of the death.  When a person dies at the scene of a traffic fatality, no notification procedure through the medical examiner, coroner or funeral home is in place. As a result, most victims, even those who wish to be donors as shown on their driver’s licenses, are not given the opportunity to donate.  The Washington State Patrol, with one telephone call, can easily assist in this life-saving procedure.

One family’s generous decision… Travis’ family generously consented to tissue donation, after he tragically drowned. To date, Travis has helped 31 individuals through tissue and cornea donation.

Facts about Tissue Donation  Medical Examiner/Coroner cases can be tissue donors without negative impact to the autopsy or investigation  Families wishing to have an open casket viewing may still do so after tissue donation  Complete reconstruction is always done  No cost to donor family for donation  One tissue donor may save or improve the quality of the life for up to 50 individuals

What can be donated? TissuesTissues Corneas/EyesCorneas/Eyes Bone graftsBone grafts Skin graftsSkin grafts Tendons and ligamentsTendons and ligaments Heart valvesHeart valves VeinsVeins * Major organs cannot be donated unless death occurs on life-support For Cassandra, a bone transplant offered hope and spared the loss of her leg due to cancer.

Tissue Recovery Process  Within hours following the death (24 hours if the body is cooled within 6 hours)  Recovery is performed in a hospital operating room or the NTC’s Renton Facility  Recovery process takes 3-6 hours  Recovery is completed before the autopsy

Cornea/Eye Recovery Process  Within 20 hours following the death  Recovery is performed in a funeral home, hospital operating room or the NTC’s Renton Facility  Recovery process takes 1-2 hours  Recovery is completed before the autopsy

What is the Trooper’s role? Specific location of collision Approximate time of collision Number of deceased Gender of deceased Approximate age of deceased The following information obtained by Troopers will assist Communications:

What is Communications role? Call back telephone number Location of collision, include district and county Approximate time of collision Number of deceased Gender of deceased (if known) Approximate age of deceased (if known) Place the referral call to , and answer the following questions:

One Tissue Donor’s Impact The donor  32-year-old male  suicide  wife consented to bone, soft tissue, skin grafts, research The recipients  31 recipients - ages 11 to M and 11 F - potentially 7 more  44 tissues  19 hospitals  6 states

The process is simple…but the impact is great Communication Officer places a toll free call to the donation agencies at at the onset of a fatal investigation Donation agency coordinator follows up with the Medical Examiner/Coroner regarding patient suitability for donation After family notification of the death, if the individual is a potential tissue donor, the donation agency coordinator approaches family over the phone with donation options

Working together to make a difference Chris tragically died in a motorcycle accident, and his family generously consented to tissue donation. To date, Chris has impacted more than 25 individuals with his gifts…