Arizona Needs More Donors!

At the end of 2007, only 29 percent of Arizona's population had signed up to be donors. Utah had 70 percent of its population registered as donors and nearby New Mexico had 65 percent of its population signed up, Patterson said.

The reason for Arizona's low percentage may be that, until recently, the state had a confusing, multiple-step sign-up process, Patterson theorized.

Then in February, a new law kicked in that has made signing up a one-step process, she continued. Now, when a person is applying for their drivers license, all they need to do is check off the appropriate organ donor box. The state will mail you a green sticker to attach to your license, Patterson said.

People also can sign up with the Arizona Donor Registry online at www.DonateLifeAZ.org or by calling the registry at 1-800-94-DONOR.