On an average there are 730 major burn victims a year in Coimbatore, hence the need to create awareness on skin donation is very high, Dr. S. Sabapathy, Plastic Surgeon and Director, Ganga Hospital, said here on Tuesday.

Speaking at a Trainers’ Training Workshop, organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry and Ganga Hospital for the Coimbatore District Home Guards, he stressed the importance of skin donation.

In India, one died every six minutes due to burns. According to sources, 1.5 lakh deaths happened due to domestic accidents, 50,000 due to industrial accidents; 6,000 due to road accidents, and 505 due to crackers.

Dr. Sabapathy said: “There is an increased need for awareness on skin donation as at least two major burn injury cases were admitted with third degree burns necessitating skin transplant everyday.”

As of now, 40 of them have donated, out of which 28 patients’ skin have been transplanted in the age groups of three to 50. The maximum transplantation was done in the age group of 50’s. The level of skin requirement depended on the area burnt, he added.

Generally, thigh and leg area of the skin was taken from the victim for skin transplantation. There was a high chance for infection while removing the skin. If the injury was severe, there was high loss on proteins and blood. In such cases the patient would be drained and would not consume food. So there was immediate need for skin.

Up to 0.5 mm skin could be removed from a deceased person. The harvested skin is taken to a bank and processed with chemicals for 30 days. Later the skin could be stored up to five years, he added.

Ganga Hospital had a skin bank that was South India’s second. Donors can contact 0422-2485333 / 2485000.

Speaking at the workshop, Dr. Sakthi Rajeswari, Eye Surgeon, Aravind Eye Hospital, said: “Globally, four crore people are visually impaired. One third people are visually impaired in India.”

In India 6.8 million suffered from cornea blindness. As many as 1.5 million transplants were done a year. There was no artificial alternative for cornea; only human cornea transplantation was possible. People with cataract, diabetes, blood pressure, those who have undergone heart surgery and also wearing spectacles could donate eyes, she said.

Dr. Sakthi said: “Cornea grade and quality check is done for four days before use. Out of which, 50 to 60 percent meet the standards. It can be stored only for 14 days. With the consent of the family, the eye can be taken from the dead person within six hours of time. The family should make sure the eye is closed and not dried. ”

People with AIDS, jaundice, rabies, eye cancer, blood cancer, eye infection, hepatitis B and hepatitis C could not donate eyes, she added.

Donors can contact Aravind Eye Hospital on 0422-4360400 or mail to [email protected]

Balaji Raju, Area Commander of Home Guards, said; “the workshop was an eye opener for all Home Guards (HG) including myself. Post workshop, I felt organ donation is not giving life to other person, but another opportunity given to us by God to live.”

As a leader of Coimbatore Home Guards, he promised that he would urge the HG personnel to spread awareness in their networks about the significance of organ donation.