New Zealand has ordered 1.2 million sq cm of skin from the USA In An Attempt To Save Victims

New Zealand has ordered 1.2 million sq cm of skin from the USA to treat suffering victims of burns  after Monday’s volcano eruption.

Surgeons have been working around the clock on 29 patients in burns units across the country since the volcano blew and erupted on White Island, off New Zealand’s North Island.

Due to the high numbers of burn victims at any one time and the degree of their burns up to 95% from toxic volcanic gases, doctors and surgeons are having to work at far more  pace than usual, said Dr Peter Watson, who is clinical director at Middlemore Hospital.

He has said 1.2 million sq cm of skin is coming from the United States as they “urgently need more skin grafts”.

A number of patients have burns on up to 95% of their bodies, while the average is 40-50%, and 22 remain on airway support due to burns affecting their lungs.