I have a Military Issue IFAC from back in 2012 when I was contracting in Iraq, it's in excellent condition but, there are 3 items that have expired. Quickclot Combat gauze, NSN 6510-01-562-3325, NAR S-Rolled Gauze, 6510-01-529-1213, and NAR Emergency Trauma Dressing, 6510-01-558-4114. They all expired in 2014, questions is, would you still use them. All are tightly sealed and in excellent condition. Thanks from the Spanish Hillbilly.
I agree, especially with the lead time on getting replacement for the quick clot right
Thank you
Absolutely I would still use them, at least as a back up. I can’t speak to the shelf life of quick clot and it’s effectiveness past that, but anything that remain sealed is still sterile. Gauze does have a tendency to break down over time, so I may not consider it for a primary kit, but definitely as backup
I agree, Thank you
I work for an anesthesia dept. and recently had to check previously packed sterile items for exp. dates. d/t upcoming hospital inspection. I asked the sterile processing dept. if we could actually use the expired items and was given the response: (paraphrased)
If it's a 'dry' item, and it's packaging is un-breached, and hasn't been fouled by water, and all seals are intact, the actual sterilization is maintained indefinitely. The expiration date is really only a legal formality to shield from liability and has no real scientific data behind it(mostly just educated guess-work), and probably does more to generate revenue than it does to prevent infection.
You'll have to check about age-degradation for the hemostatic agent in your
combat gauze, but double packed sealed packages should be good for a long time and well beyond their expiry dates. I Mean....look at how long MREs last.
Hope this Helps.
I-S-I