Out of date First aid?

[OctopusPrime]

So my mum manages a load of schools and asked me if I wanted their old first aid stuff. As soon as it's out of date they have to throw it.

Just got a whole bin liner full of assorted first aid bits, mostly plasters, bandages and alcohol wipes, but some other bits n bobs too.

Any reason why out of date stuff can't be used?

[Yorkshire Andy]

depends on how its stored.... Elastic based dressings using latex perish with age same with gloves.... wipes even in foil package dry out.....

[OctopusPrime]

I guess I will have to open a few items up every now and then to check it's still ok.
Just such a waste to throw it all.

Even a sealed pack of tweezers a scissors that have a SBD on it... I know they are sterile but, seriously, they are usful even unsterile.

[OctopusPrime]

Oh and if I get any more I'd be happy to send people some, don't really need another 50 bandages unless I'm going to mummifiy someone

[Yorkshire Andy]

Oh and if I get any more I'd be happy to send people some, don't really need another 50 bandages unless I'm going to mummifiy someone

well it is nearly haloween

Most of my FAK is out of date but kept in a cool dark place its still ok.....

[unsure]

the only thing i won`t use thats out of date is the likes of savlon ect . long before bandages came in packets , they were just strips of cotton cut in to lenths and boiled after use . yes you were more likely to get an infection than you are know but if its use the out of date bandages out bleed and still be more open to infection , then the bandages win . how many times have you or some one you know cut them selves and just grab a T towel to put on it .
if you decide you don`t want it then send it to me , i`ll be happy to pay the postage

[survivers]

Oh and if I get any more I'd be happy to send people some, don't really need another 50 bandages unless I'm going to mummifiy someone

LOL

[OctopusPrime]

Thanks unsure

After I've moved house I will go through it all and sort it all out... Everything is in boxes at the moment. I do want to keep some of it, maybe all of it... But it looks like there will be a steady supply of this stuff so next "batch" I'll send to you, don't know when but I'll PM as n when.

I love free stuff

[PreppingPingu]

Some of the reason sterile dressings are considered out of date is that the wrapper is only guaranteed as a barrier for so long. After time the wrapper become porous and therefore the contents are no longer sterile. So from a work place situation you cannot risk using them, yet if you or I needed a dressing, an out of date one is probably much cleaner and better than a bit of torn t-shirt or a hankie! (providing its been kept in cool dark dry conditions.) As for meds - there has been a thread somewhere on here about product licenses and storage. Of course some medicines will do more harm than good if out of date, but as far as I am aware from research done, they mainly tend to just become less effective over time.

[grenfell]

I also acquired a load of out of date first aid kits from work, the ones in the green plastic boxes designed for I think 25 people. Bits had been used but I re-arranged the contents to make several full boxes. I have kept some kits for house and car and put the rest on e-bay listing them as out of date but they still sold. One thing that did stand out is the number of triangular bandages that were left over. Indeed one box that I picked up had nothing but triangular bandages and by the time I had finished I had another half box spare. To be honest I've never seen one used in anger so to speak and a friend who teaches first aid and safety after telling me how useful they are had to concede he'd never actually seen one used on a patient . I'm not suggesting they should be dropped from first aid kits but does any kit need more than one? Still it did give me a few extra rags for the workshop.