Skin Bank

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NEW YORK FIREFIGHTERS

SKIN BANK

Your Precious Gift

Tragically, the patients treated in burn centers across the country are often small children, older adults, and firefighters who have risked their lives to save them. For a child with deep, painful burns covering most of the body, healthy skin for transplantation is a precious, often life-restoring gift.

But severe burns caused by fire, hot water, or chemicals, can happen to anyone at any age. You, or a loved one, may someday join others who are waiting for a healing skin graft.

To present a healing donation to The New York Firefighters Skin Bank at New York Presbyterian Hospital (formerly The New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center), you need to complete a donor card, and make your wishes known to your loved ones.

Thanks to special people like you who make a life-giving choice, skin transplant recipients have a chance to realize their dreams of recovery.

We need your help because not everyone gets out without getting burned.

A Bank of Hope

For men, women and children of all races and ages fighting to recover from life-threatening, potentially disfiguring burns, the Skin Bank is a bank of hope and promise for the future. It is the only Skin bank in New York State. Your healing donation gives those with the courage to hope, the power to heal.

Becoming a Donor

A donor card helps to identify you as someone wishing to make a skin donation at the time of death.

You must be at least 18 years of age to carry the card
Two witnesses must sign the card in your presence.
Make sure to check all the appropriate boxes.
Carry the card with you at all times

Carrying a card will not affect the care you receive if you are brought to an emergency room or admitted to a hospital. All efforts will be made to save your life and to provide the best possible care, whether or not you have a donor card.

You can help us to heal others

About the Donation

Almost anyone, at any age, can become a donor. Advanced age or history of disease does not mean you cant donate. you can make your wishes known on your donor card or drivers license, and by informing your loved ones and physicians.

All major faiths approve of skin donation.
The transplant comes from the areas of the body normally covered by clothing. The donor is not disfigured in any way.
A skin graft, comparable to the thickness of a blister is surgically removed within 24 hours of the time of death.
Donating should not delay funeral arrangements or interfere with the use of an open casket.

Even though a donor card has been signed, most hospitals will seek consent from your family at the time of your passing. Talk with them about your desire to become a donor.

Thank You!

Give those with the courage to hope, the power to heal

Please call the New York Firefighters Skin Bank to request a donor card and pamphlet, or with any questions you may have.

(212)-746-SKIN