Rank: Forum user 
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Hi All,
I would like to know everyones elses opinion on first aid supplies having expiry dates.
I understand it for sterile items but we have expiry dates on things like cool packs which should never come into contact with open wounds and therefore has no need to be sterile. The cool packs we buy from a large supplier have expire within 18 months which I think is ridiculous. We do not get through a lot of first aid supplies and so it just seems such a waste having to throw everything out. I know there are people who can use the expired items for training etc but that does not help with our cost of having to repurchase everything every year or so.
I am leaning towards feeling that a lot of items are only given expiry dates to create more revenue for the companies selling them.
What does everyone else think?
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Could it be that the chemistry within the cool packs ceases to be as effective after such a time period? I'm sure it might degrade over time? Just a thought.
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Rank: Forum user
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Hi,
We have decided to replace (in rotation) our kits so nothing actually goes out of date and we can keep an eye on the cost too. The kits that have been replaced we then gift the to local charity organisations Cadets, scouts, guides etc. For them to practice with.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Don't the packs work by a salt dissolving in water? If the salt has already got damp (no packaging being perfectly able to keep all water out indefinitely), the effect when it is used will be reduced.
I suppose you could test a sample to see if you still get the temperature drop.
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Rank: Forum user
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Thanks for your responses so far.
For the moment we have decided to do what Kate suggests and test a small sample of the items that are out of date. All of the cold packs we have tested so far seem to work fine so I guess they may just be being a little over cautious with the expiry dates.
If anyone has any other ideas on how to avoid wasting what appears to be perfectly good first aid supplies I would be very interested to know!
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Rank: Forum user
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It seems it is a marketing ploy for the most part. I don't see any detrimental effect on an out of date bandage being used to stop someone bleeding to death.
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Rank: Super forum user
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gt wrote:It seems it is a marketing ploy for the most part. I don't see any detrimental effect on an out of date bandage being used to stop someone bleeding to death. Totally agree I was concentrating more on the 'packs' being able to still get hot/cold over time.
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