Milestone tragedy: Many come forward to donate skin for injured children

Highlights

• Health ministry revises the death toll to 33
• Two victims released today
• Burn institute grafts over 3,500 sq-cm skin onto Milestone victims from stock
• Enough skin in stock for more grafting
• Over 100 show interest in donating skin

A growing number of people have been coming forward to donate skin to help the burn victims of the Milestone School plane crash. 

As of today (27 July), over 100 individuals have shown interest in donating skin at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery. From them, seven donors have been selected for skin grafting.

Meanwhile, two more  Milestone air crash victims were released from the burn institute yesterday. So far, 33 people, mostly students, lost their lives in the air crash. Four patients are currently in critical condition, fighting for their lives.

Dr Mahbub Hasan, Associate Professor and Coordinator of the Skin Bank at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, told The Business Standard, "Many people have expressed interest in donating skin after the Milestone incident. Out of more than a hundred volunteers, seven to eight were deemed medically fit for donation. 

"We've noted down their names and contact numbers. When needed, we will call them in. Currently, all our operation theatres are occupied, so we are not collecting skin at the moment."

At present, 34 individuals injured in the crash are receiving treatment at the Burn Institute. All of them suffer from burn wounds – some more severe than others. Skin grafting offers new hope for their recovery. Through this process, donor skin will be grafted onto the burned areas of the patients' bodies.

Dr Mahbub added, "We had about 9,000 square centimeters of skin in our skin bank. So far, 3,500 to 4,000 square centimeters have been grafted onto the Milestone victims. We may need another 3,000 to 4,000 square centimeters, and thankfully, we still have enough in stock.

"Skin grafting is a process used to prevent infection. In many cases, it becomes essential to save the patient's life." 

He added, "Right now, those coming in to donate want to help only the currently injured children. But skin donation is a process. Once the skin is processed, it cannot be guaranteed which patient it will go to." 

Skin grafting is a surgical procedure where skin is taken from one area of the body and transplanted to another area. It's used to treat wounds that haven't healed on their own, such as those caused by burns, trauma, or surgery. 

There are certain criteria for donating skin. "We encourage post-mortem (cadaver) skin donation the most. Sometimes we seek skin from family members if a patient urgently needs it. 

"We want the public to know that skin can be donated. For those interested, we have screening criteria to ensure physical fitness, and a counselling session is required. We can preserve the donor's skin for up to five years," Mahbub said.

Doctors explain that skin is collected under anaesthesia, usually from the donor's thigh area. New skin regenerates within 14 days, and the donor typically experiences no long-term issues.

The country's first skin bank was launched this January at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery.

Two more released from burn institute, four remain critical

Two more patients injured in the Milestone School plane crash in Dhaka's Uttara have been discharged from the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, bringing the total number of discharged patients to four.

This information was shared by the institute's Acting Director, Professor Dr Md Nasir Uddin, during a press conference at 3pm today.

Among the two released patients were Kazi Amzad, a rescuer who risked his life during the incident. The other is Sabuja Akter, a female staff member at Milestone School.

"We discharged the two as their conditions have improved significantly," said Dr Nasir.

Currently, 34 patients are undergoing treatment at the institute — 28 of them are children, and 6 are adults. Among them, four are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), with two on life support. 

The patients on life support are 14-year-old Ayan, who suffered 40% burns along with inhalation injury, and Nabid Newaz, who sustained 53% burns and also suffers from inhalation trauma.

The remaining patients are being treated as follows: three in the Medical High Dependency Unit (HDU), six in the Female HDU, eight in the post-operative ward and 12 in cabins.

Dr Nasir stated that of all hospitalised patients, four are currently in critical condition, and nine are in severe condition. There are seven patients with inhalation injuries, and six patients with burns covering 30% or more of their bodies. No new ICU admissions were made today.

Health ministry revises death toll to 33

The health ministry today revised the death toll to 33, down from the previously reported 35.

According to the health ministry report, as of 4pm today, a total of 33 people died in the Milestone tragedy while 46 others are still being treated at various hospitals in Dhaka.