Posted: Today 12:49:21 AM EST
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My TCCC is a decade plus in the rear view and my IFAK is about as old. Do these things like TQs and combat gauze actually expire? It is in a hot car in the summer. What’s the latest and greatest in training and gear? Stop the bleed still reputable? Thinking I probably need to rotate and update. Those of you who actually make a living saving lives - thanks for what you do and sharing your knowledge. My basic kit has been: TQ (2) Chest seal (2) Shears quick clot (2) Israeli Bandage (2) Sharpie Headlamp Whistle Space blanket Let me know what I can do better. Thanks. |
| Everything expires. Chest seals the fastest in a hot car. I can't give you an exact date but at 10 years id assume it's all shit though the gauze still works as normal gauze probably. See if you can snap your TQ easily at the plastic, if yes it was expired. If no, you just over stressed it and need a new one. Black Friday at NAR is coming up. Don't be a cheap ass. |
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Sticky chest seals may be bad. Possibly the quick clot but depends on type. Headlight batteries need replaced. Everything else is good to go. Eta: do us a favor and try the chest seals. See if the adhesive stays where it supposed to when you open them and if it sticks like it's supposed to when you apply it. |
I dont think this is a brains type of operation.
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My experience with medical stuff expiring.... TQ's generally stay good forever unless you practice with them a lot. Gauze - if you store it in hot/cold conditions, probably 10 years. Inside - forever. Anything with adhesive - 5-10 years inside, but 3-5 years left in a car. I have opened 5 year expired AED pad's that were stored indoors and they still were highly adhesive. OPA's - forever. NPA's - forever if inside, 5-10 years in a car. Narcan - excellent study on this - if its kept in room temps, its good past 20 years. Kept in a hot/cold vehicle, I'd go with the expiration date. EPI - if keep inside you can push it 1-2 years past the date though at 2 years its down to about 80% effectiveness. Medical Gloves - in a car a couple of years. Indoors probably good for about 10. Quickclot / Celox - no clue. I cracked open a 5 year old expired package out of my main med bag (which is kept climate controlled), and it appeared to be still "fresh". Did not have a convenient bleeding wound to test it on  |
Abolish the FBI, ATF, and the NSA.
Any citizen accused of a crime is presumed innocent until bankrupted beyond all reasonable doubt.
Boycott Colorado - don't reward communists in Denver with your business.
Any citizen accused of a crime is presumed innocent until bankrupted beyond all reasonable doubt.
Boycott Colorado - don't reward communists in Denver with your business.
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UV/ temperature exposure will affect plastics and adhesives. Gauzes will be good for a while but chemicals from the packaging may leech into them. The primary ingredient in combat gauze is kaolin which is a mineral and doesn’t expire per-se. Most expirations are a matter of sterility rather than potency and are there because of mandate and to drive future sales. |
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Certain plastics (like in the tourniquet) can degrade, the latex in the nasal pharyngeal airway and gloves can break down and weaken, the adhesive on the chest seal can break down, and the elastic in the Israeli dressing can break down. The gauze and clotting agents can withstand high temps. If everything is kept in reasonable temperatures it should be fine for a long time. It’s not a bad idea to replace the components that can and will degrade with time. Shelf life of an IFAK is 5 years, but I have opened and inspected kits of mine that were 10+ years that were stored properly that were still good. |