{"id":859,"date":"2021-04-16T18:02:57","date_gmt":"2021-04-16T18:02:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.inventorywolf.com\/?page_id=859"},"modified":"2021-04-16T18:55:11","modified_gmt":"2021-04-16T18:55:11","slug":"when-do-medical-supplies-expire","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.inventorywolf.com\/when-do-medical-supplies-expire\/","title":{"rendered":"When do medical supplies expire"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"859\" class=\"elementor elementor-859\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-b150a5c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"b150a5c\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-86af7da\" data-id=\"86af7da\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2b95660 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2b95660\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-0a5b0d3\" data-id=\"0a5b0d3\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5ff23ef elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"5ff23ef\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">When do medical supplies expire?<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b2c243c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"b2c243c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h6 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">August 12, 2020<\/h6>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-3affd2a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"3affd2a\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-0f22c63\" data-id=\"0f22c63\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4ab0e0b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4ab0e0b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Turning on the expiring items notifications in <strong>Inventory Wolf<\/strong>, and setting the <strong>Expires<\/strong> field for items with expiration dates is a great way to keep abreast of your disaster preparedness supplies\u2019 health \u2013 but when do medical supplies really expire? And can you still use them when they do expire?<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bb631c6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bb631c6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Ultimately you <em>want<\/em> medical items to expire, unused. That chest seal for treating sucking chest wounds expire? Thank heavens! But you still want to be aware of how long after the expiry date the item can still be used, and how expiry changes the item. We\u2019ll explore that here with regards to the items recommended in <strong>Inventory Wolf<\/strong>\u2019s first-aid kits.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-75b2061 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"75b2061\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Basics<\/h4>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2e3bffc elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2e3bffc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>For the purposes of this article, we\u2019ll assume un-opened items that have been stored in a\u00a0<strong>cool, dry, dark place<\/strong>, which is where you should be storing your medical supplies.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ba8037c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ba8037c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li>The expiry dates of\u00a0<em>opened<\/em>\u00a0items such as creams, gels, and liquids should be heeded.\u00a0<strong>Once you unseal an item, it will begin to degrade at a faster rate<\/strong>, and anywhere you have high moisture content, as with creams, you have a greater opportunity for bacteria to grow. Eventually the preservatives lose effectiveness, and then the bacteria can proliferate.<\/li><li>In general,\u00a0<strong>assume that medications, antiseptics, antibiotics, sunscreens, etc, become less effective after their expiry date<\/strong>\u00a0as their active ingredients degrade or evaporate. Before you keep, or use, any such expired item, consider the worst thing that could happen if the drug doesn\u2019t work. For example, if you\u2019re spending long days outside in the sun using long-expired sunscreen, you could be setting yourself up for skin issues.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4ab0b9b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"4ab0b9b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Equipment<\/h4>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c33e246 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c33e246\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li><strong>Tourniquets<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 SWAT-T tourniquets are essentially large rubber bands, and rubber degrades over time, so heed their expiration dates. Nylon strap type tourniquets don\u2019t really have anything that is going to degrade in an appreciable time frame, unless they\u2019re stored in a harsh environment.<\/li><li><strong>Irrigation syringes<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 The stoppers for syringes are typically made of synthetic butyl rubber. Once the stopper degrades, it can start disintegrating and reduce irrigation water pressure, or result in bits of rubber being squirted into the wound. With the help of\u00a0<em><a href=\"http:\/\/everyspec.com\/MIL-HDBK\/MIL-HDBK-0600-0699\/MIL_HDBK_695D_1948\/\">MIL-HDBK-695D Military Standardization Handbook Rubber Products: Recommended Shelf Life<\/a><\/em>, we see that synthetic butyl rubber has a shelf-life of 5-10 years.<\/li><li><strong>Nitrile gloves<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Typically have a shelf life of five years before they are no longer guaranteed to be fluid-resistant. If you are using these gloves to\u00a0<strong>avoid blood-born viruses<\/strong>, you\u2019ll want them to not be expired.<\/li><li><strong>Nasopharyngeal airways<\/strong>, with lube \u2013 These are essentially soft latex tubes, and so have a shelf-life of 3-5 years (per\u00a0<em>MIL-HDBK-695D<\/em>). Make sure that if you keep a packet of lube with them, that they have compatible expiry dates.<\/li><li><strong>Shears, Tweezers, Safety pins, Aluminum splints, Mylar blankets<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Don\u2019t expire.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-031dbf1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"031dbf1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Bandages and Dressings<\/h4>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d567202 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d567202\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Bandages hold dressings onto the wound.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-868220a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"868220a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Modern elastic bandages are typically constructed from cotton, polyester, and latex-free elastic yarns, which don\u2019t degrade in any appreciable time. Adhesive bandages, however,\u00a0<em>will<\/em>\u00a0lose stickiness over time, but quality adhesive bandages will retain their stickiness for at least\u00a0<strong>5-10 years<\/strong>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1321f48 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1321f48\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Quality medical tape, moleskin, and chest seals, also fall under the 5-10 year stickiness retention guideline. For suture strips, however, you should heed the package expiration date, since\u00a0<strong>you\u2019ll want maximal stickiness<\/strong>\u00a0when holding those larger gashes together.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-af3a547 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"af3a547\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Dressings are a different matter since they range from a simple sterile gauze, to hemostatic-impregnated, or even with anti-bacterial creme, etc. For simple sterile gauze, the expiration date on the packages typically indicates until when sterility is guaranteed, to help prevent infection from pathogens present within the dressing. There have been studies that show\u00a0<strong>no significant difference in wound infection rates between sterile and clean dressings<\/strong>\u00a0(<a href=\"https:\/\/nursing.ceconnection.com\/ovidfiles\/00152192-201805000-00009.pdf\">1<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC2539027\/\">2<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.o-wm.com\/content\/does-sterile-or-nonsterile-technique-make-a-difference-wounds-healing-secondary-intention\">3<\/a>), so you could consider dry dressings such as gauze, as having no expiration date.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6fb3d7a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6fb3d7a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>For dressings with active ingredients such as QuickClot, you\u2019ll want to heed the manufacturer\u2019s expiration dates, as their effectiveness will surely degrade over time. Don\u2019t throw them out (see below), but do freshen up your stock.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3676ece elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3676ece\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Drugs<\/h4>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e629656 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e629656\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Again, assume that medications, antiseptics, antibiotics, sunscreens, etc,\u00a0<strong>become less effective after their expiry date<\/strong>\u00a0as their active ingredients degrade or evaporate. Some notables and exceptions:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6be8f77 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6be8f77\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li><strong>Acetaminophen<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 A\u00a0<em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC7040264\/\">Stability of Active Ingredients in Long-Expired Prescription Medications<\/a><\/em>\u00a0study found acetaminophen (ie, Tylenol) to be stable for 20+ years.<\/li><li><strong>Diphenhydramine<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 The\u00a0<em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.drugs.com\/article\/drug-expiration-dates.html\">Shelf Life Extension Program<\/a>\u00a0(SLEP)<\/em>\u00a0found diphenhydramine (a common antihistamine) to be stable for 15+ years.<\/li><li><strong>Doxycycline<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Stick to the label expiration even though the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.fda.gov\/emergency-preparedness-and-response\/mcm-legal-regulatory-and-policy-framework\/expiration-date-extensions-certain-lots-doxycycline-hyclate-capsules\">FDA is allowing the use<\/a>\u00a0of\u00a0<em>certain lots<\/em>\u00a0of doxycycline (a broad-spectrum tetracycline-class antibiotic) beyond the expiration date.<\/li><li><strong>Aspirin<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Heed the label expiration. If moisture has gotten into the bottle some of the aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) will react with water to give back salicylic acid and acetic acid (vinegar). The\u00a0<em>Stability of Active Ingredients in Long-Expired Prescription Medications<\/em>\u00a0study showed aspirin present at &lt; 1% of the stated amount in the old drugs.<\/li><li><strong>Potassium iodide<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Stockpiled in the US for a radiation emergency, potassium iodide tablets are\u00a0<strong>inherently stable<\/strong>\u00a0and do not lose their effectiveness over time,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.fda.gov\/regulatory-information\/search-fda-guidance-documents\/potassium-iodide-tablets-shelf-life-extension\">per FDA<\/a>.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-16c9d93 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"16c9d93\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What to Do With Expired Items<\/h4>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-953c05d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"953c05d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Rotate expired medical supplies to the back shelf if there\u2019s room. Even though they may be less effective,\u00a0<strong>they can be better than nothing<\/strong>, in case nothing else is available. On a more cynical note, you could use them as bait, or as part of a \u201ctribute\u201d should you get squeezed, and need to buy some time\u2026<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1abb4b3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1abb4b3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Related Fun Facts<\/h4>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d974eaa elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d974eaa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li>Bleach has a 6 month expiration date, at which point it begins to break down into salt and water<\/li><li>Hand-warmers last around five years<\/li><li>Kevlar has an expiration date, heed the label<\/li><li>Ballistic plates expire, heed the label<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When do medical supplies expire? August 12, 2020 Turning on the expiring items notifications in Inventory Wolf, and setting the Expires field for items with expiration dates is a great way to keep abreast of your disaster preparedness supplies\u2019 health \u2013 but when do medical supplies really expire? And can you still use them when &hellip;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"> <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.inventorywolf.com\/when-do-medical-supplies-expire\/\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">When do medical supplies expire<\/span> Read More &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"footnotes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.inventorywolf.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/859"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.inventorywolf.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.inventorywolf.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.inventorywolf.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.inventorywolf.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=859"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.inventorywolf.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/859\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":879,"href":"https:\/\/www.inventorywolf.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/859\/revisions\/879"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.inventorywolf.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=859"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}