First Aid Kit

Jeetesh

Jeetesh

Member
I thought I’d have a quick look and see if anything needed adding/replacing.

Nice to know it’s never been used however what’s in it are mostly bandages.

My question is that the bandages have an expiry date around the end of 2008, probably some 5 years after the kit was put together.

In my mind a bandage that’s sealed is probably still good to use?? If there is anyone on the forum with any sort of medical knowledge as to whether I should be replacing items or whether I’m fine to keep especially as some of these bandages are 11 years out of date?
 
I work in medical devices.
For the sake of regulation the sterile bandages need to have a shelf life or use by date, that date will have to have been proven by testing. That testing is expensive and time consuming, even with accelerated ageing a 5 year shelf life may take one year to prove. So a past date item doesn’t render it useless it’s just not guaranteed to be still sterile. If the package still looks airtight then go ahead and keep them. Either way a bandage is used to stop bleeding and bleeding will kill you a lot quicker then a skin infection, so even a very dirty bandage would be better then none in some circumstances.
 
Robthebank said:
I work in medical devices.
For the sake of regulation the sterile bandages need to have a shelf life or use by date, that date will have to have been proven by testing. That testing is expensive and time consuming, even with accelerated ageing a 5 year shelf life may take one year to prove. So a past date item doesn’t render it useless it’s just not guaranteed to be still sterile. If the package still looks airtight then go ahead and keep them. Either way a bandage is used to stop bleeding and bleeding will kill you a lot quicker then a skin infection, so even a very dirty bandage would be better then none in some circumstances.
Click to expand...
The packaging looks airtight however understand that they may not be sterile anymore.
I might just add a few bits so it’s got everything a first aid kit should have.

thanks Robthebank
 
Your injured skin is unlikely to be sterile unless you accidentally cut yourself in a laminar flow cabinet and had previously doused everything in antiseptic or alcohol so using your bandages, even if they are a bit iffy on the sterility front, will certainly be better than leaving a wound open to the air.

Crumbling bandages which are brittle and flake off fragments of cotton when flexed are best avoided however... still better than bleeding to death though!


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There's a first aid kit on special on Amazon at the moment...

First Aid Kit -309 Pieces- Reflective Bag Design - Including Eyewash, Bandages, Moleskin Pad, CPR Respirator and Emergency Blanket for Travel, Home, Office, Car, Camping, Workplace: Amazon.co.uk: Health & Personal Care

First Aid Kit -309 Pieces- Reflective Bag Design - Including Eyewash, Bandages, Moleskin Pad, CPR Respirator and Emergency Blanket for Travel, Home, Office, Car, Camping, Workplace: Amazon.co.uk: Health & Personal Care
www.amazon.co.uk
 
First aid kits are not something I’ve really thought about as all my recent cars with first aid kits have been new and usually sold after 3-4 years so contents haven't gone out of date. Cars in my early days were either crap or good but which ever way didn’t have them so never an issue. This is my first foray into a 16 year old car so coming across things I’ve never thought about or considered previously.

I take the point about the dressings being brittle and not something that had crossed my mind, this is reason in itself to change the items.

I think I’ll just buy a first aid kit as damadgeruk has suggested and replace all the items that are needed. My first priority however is to pack whatever fits in the OEM first aid kit/warning triangle bag with out distorting it.

thank you.
 
I have actually had cause to use mine a couple of times and was quite impressed by the contents and handy lay out of the kit.

It was a couple of years ago but the bandages and pads I used were fine.

In an emergency no one will care about the sell by date but good preparation is a hazard avoided.


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