Last week, a significant day noted something that needs to be considered by residents throughout the year.

In a ceremony on Friday, Pennsylvania Departments of Health and Transportation joined health care leaders, organ donation organizations, and families impacted by organ donation at UPMC West Shore to celebrate PA Donor Day and encourage more Pennsylvanians to register as organ donors.

PA Donor Day is recognized on August 1 — or 8-1 — a date symbolizing that eight lives can be saved by one donor. More than 6,000 Pennsylvanians are currently on the state’s transplant waiting list, and far too many die each year waiting for a match.

“As a practicing pediatrician, I saw firsthand the life-changing impact of organ donation,” said Secretary of Health Dr. Debra Bogen. “Children and families were given a new lease on life thanks to the selfless action of someone they often never met. We need more Pennsylvanians to sign up and help save lives.”

One organ and tissue donor can save up to eight lives through organ donation and enhance the lives of up to 75 others through tissue donation — aiding patients recovering from spinal injuries, burns, vision loss, and more.

Currently, about 5 million Pennsylvanians are registered organ donors — roughly half of driver’s license and state ID holders. But increasing that number is key to saving more lives.

As part of the Commonwealth’s efforts to expand awareness, the Shapiro Administration partners with the Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13 to lead the Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Project, which helps secondary students consider the critical issues surrounding organ and tissue donation and empowers them to make informed decisions when applying for a driver’s license.

Signing up is fast, free, and easy:

— Residents can register when visiting any PennDOT Photo License or Driver License Center.

— Those under 18 must have a parent or guardian’s consent.

— There is no additional fee to add the “Organ Donor” designation to a license or ID.

— Pennsylvanians can also register online — a process that takes less than 90 seconds.

Pennsylvanians can learn more and register to become organ donors at health.pa.gov or through PennDOT’s online services.