American Skin Helping New Zealand Volcano Burn Victims

In times of natural disaster and need, it's always especially refreshing to see people step up and help out people in need. The United States is going just that.

Nearly 1,290 square feet of human skin from the United States is going to New Zealand to help treat people burned by the recent volcanic eruption on White Island, according to The Washington Post.

At least 22 of the victims are in critical condition because of severe burns that could be helped with skin grafting.

“The nature of the burns suffered is complicated by the gases and chemicals in the eruption,” said one expert. “This has necessitated more rapid treatment of these burns than is the case for thermal-only burns.”

Some victims have burns on up to 90% of their body. "This number of burns at one time is certainly unprecedented in New Zealand, and it’s unprecedented in most countries in the world," said the clinical director of surgery and perioperative services at Middlemore Hospital.

Very, very sad. With at least nine people still missing from the eruption, I'll be keeping the people affected in my prayers, and things like this make me proud to be apart of a country that helps others when they're in need.