Five million Ohioans agree: Organ donation saves lives. Donate Life Month is a perfect time to announce that there are now more than 5 million registered organ and tissue donors in the Ohio Donor Registry.

This achievement makes it clear that Ohioans understand the need for donors and are starting to take action.

I would like to thank each and every licensed driver or state I.D. holder who has registered as a donor. Your pledge to give life after death provides hope to the 110,000 Americans – including 3,300 Ohioans – waiting on a life-saving organ transplant.

For those who have not signed up yet, we hope you will join our movement to give the “Gift of Life.”

By joining the Ohio Donor Registry, you have the potential to save eight lives through organ donation and enhance up to 50 lives through tissue donation. Donation will not affect funeral plans, there is no cost to donate and your medical care will never be compromised because of your status as a donor.

Your action can help us prevent 18 men, women and children from dying every day when an organ transplant doesn’t come in time. One Ohioan dies every other day while waiting.

Signing up is easy. You can register at your local BMV, go online to www.lifelineofohio.org, or call 800-525-5667 to register through a paper form.

Be a part of the movement to save lives in Ohio! Register today as an organ and tissue donor.

Kent Holloway

CEO, Lifeline of Ohio

Legislation would combat elder abuse and neglect

A recent Tribune article is a timely reminder that we need to proactively protect Ohio seniors from scams (“Scam targets local grandfather”, Apr. 6).

No senior citizen should be made to feel unsafe in her own home.

That’s why I am working to prevent and combat elder abuse and neglect on a federal level. I’ve cosponsored legislation to train law enforcement officials to recognize elder abuse and prosecute this devious crime against some of the most vulnerable members of our communities.

Until insidious schemes against seniors end, I will continue to fight to protect our elderly neighbors and relatives safe from neglect and abuse.

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown