One skin donor can help up to eight people. Skin is removed from the abdomen, middle to lower back, buttocks and the front and back of the thigh. The skin removed is only about as thick as a facial tissue. Donated skin is used with burn victims. It can be placed on a wound and left up to six weeks. During this time, the patient has the opportunity to grow their own skin without trauma of losing new skin tissue to dressing changes and the risk of infection is greatly reduced.
If you wish to donate tissues for either transplantation or research, just sign the tissue and organ donor card with your driver's license and discuss it with your family so they are aware of your wishes.
