Out of Date FAK items?

[paratus]

Hi Guys,

I was wondering about whether items that are out of date in a FAK being still usable? I was doing a general kit audit today and found some items were OOD and others were only just OOD. Considering the importance of this kit is it worth a risk?

I mean, I can appreciate medicines/lotions/sanitizing wipes can go off, but a plaster or bandage? I'm not rolling without a FAK, I have more up to date stuff it's just considering how much kit can cost, is it really bad to stretch things out a bit?

Opinions welcome

[mallie99]

It's all still "Usable" in the grander sense of the word, but sterilisation cannot be assumed any more. So I'd use it on my son's teddy but not much else unless I really had no other alternative.

It's one of those things where you have the opportunity right now to replace the kit with sterilised gear, why take the risk?

Mallie

[Yorkshire Andy]

not only that anything with elastic (latex) degrades with age the bandaged loose their stretch...
adhesive in plasters tends to degrade too

if your looking to restock the kit look in Lidl they had large car FAK in last thursday For a £5er they are well stocked even if you combine 2 into one theres a fair bit of kit in them

[Malthouse]

Packaged items should still be sterile, so long as the packaging is clean and not crumpled.

The other school of thought is to use out of date supplies for practicing, get the first aid manual out (get the 10th edition if you have not already) and have a go at the various dressings.

[pseudonym]

As already stated....

I keep my OOD bandages/gauze pads in a seperate box - use them for training purposes or if TSHTF.

Creams/tabs get binned.

[paratus]

Thanks guys

Appreciate all views. Never thought of using OOD stuff for training so thanks for that idea!

[ForgeCorvus]

I've always assumed that the date on dressings and such is how long (or rather a percentage of how long) the manufacturer knows their packaging is good for...... A bit like bottled water.

If you need to use one its better then a clean T-shirt,but not as good as a known sterile dressing

[KrisWard]

This issue has been done on here boefore and I recall too from it that medicines are still approx 90% effective upto 10 years past there sell by date.

I think other items in A FAK, is upto you, some people will say never use out of date kit and others say its fine. I have about 5 FAK's and I still have a couple years left on the items, so will be considering the same thing then!

[MizerD]

Nood here... What does FAK stand for O.o?

[preppingsu]

Nood here... What does FAK stand for O.o?

First Aid Kit

This thread might help you

viewtopic.php?f=17&t=648