As long as the wrapper hasn't been tampered with and its still sealed and sterile do they self destruct?
or are they good to use until whenever i may need them?
or are they good to use until whenever i may need them?
longevity of First Field Dressings
- Thread starter Man of Tanith
- Start date
Most of these items should have an expiry date, after which they are not guaranteed sterile. If there's no such date (it will be identified with an hour glass symbol or EXP: ) then the contents are usually considered sterile unless packaging damaged or open.
KP
KP
Most of the ones I've seen have a statement on the packaging sayin, "Sterility guarenteed as long as the seal is unbroken" or something to that effect.
That said, I suspect if you're referring to adhesive bandages, then the adhesive itself may be subject to deterioration. I really don't know though. I've got some ban-aids (plasters) over 10 or 15 years old that I still use.
That said, I suspect if you're referring to adhesive bandages, then the adhesive itself may be subject to deterioration. I really don't know though. I've got some ban-aids (plasters) over 10 or 15 years old that I still use.
look on the side with the English instructions Sam, bottom right Hour glass and sterile exp date should be around there,
The simple answer is that no one will say that it will be good after the expiry date, and if they do they are liars mate, it could be great for decades, it could become dodgy the day after, its your call
This is what lead me to ask as my old manager was ex army medic and said they used old stuff all the timeThe simple answer is that no one will say that it will be good after the expiry date, and if they do they are liars mate, it could be great for decades, it could become dodgy the day after, its your call
Yours must be different then. As stated, all ours say sterility guarenteed unless seal is broken. If it has an expiration date, I'd replace it.
Let's face the facts. Manufacturers are out to make money. They are happy if you bin your out of date kit. I have FFDs that were issued to me 20 years ago that are still in my kit. They will work fine for topical applications.
There is good research out there that says even medications can be used out of date.
There is good research out there that says even medications can be used out of date.
If a dressing has a coating as in sticky plasters they .... don't stick, field dressings so long as intact should not give a problem. There was some American research on dates used on drugs which showed many lasted years after the sell by/use by and IIRC dressings were mentioned to much the same result. I've got the full report in .PDF format if I can find the blooming thing.
sterile is irrelevant you can only apply a sterile dressing in an operating theater that is clean
if you have a major artery pumping blood to the outside you need to stop it and anything will do even the dog bed in the boot of the car
the hospital will sort out any infection later.
FFD are just a lump of cloth that absorbs so if the cover is intact it should be good to go Ive got some about that i got in cadets in the 80's that where old then when issued
ATB
Duncan
if you have a major artery pumping blood to the outside you need to stop it and anything will do even the dog bed in the boot of the car
the hospital will sort out any infection later.
FFD are just a lump of cloth that absorbs so if the cover is intact it should be good to go Ive got some about that i got in cadets in the 80's that where old then when issued
ATB
Duncan
I don't think its do with the point of application more to do with staying bug free leading up to it being used, bouncing around in your pack, or in a cupboard,
hi folks i have always wondered this aswell... i've got 20 or 30 ww2 vintage British shell dressings ,first field dressings, U.S. carlile Battle dressings (in a tin can and in foil wrap) and a lot of the newer British "Joint Services" field dressings from the 1970's...i have opened a few from each of the lot and have found they are as good as the day they were made...mind you none of the outer fabric/rubber covers were ripped or torn and the case apppeared air tight ...on the other hand i have had a lot of U.S. made "troop individual ,field dressings" wrapped in a green plastic wrapper, that i have opened and used for training just to find the tails and gauze pad were dry-rotted and will pull apart when the dressings are applied ...i think for the most part the "out of date,use by date" issue is a legal one so the company who made the product wont get sued if the product fails after the due date...this is what we live with in a sue happy modern world...to this day i still use and carry the above dressings in my Jeep and my out-door kit...vince g. 11B Infantry....
I suspect that when you opened the WWII dresiings you might have spoiled a collector's item worth quite a bit had it been left unopened.
I've always been told to ignore expiry dates on field dressings (both cvilian and military), and any time one needs to be applied in anger to a major wound, the poor individual will very soon be pumped full of antibiotics anyhow.
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