If you live near the coast or take your first-aid kit with you out on the water (to say nothing of getting it completely soaked by rain or immersion) you can depend on your bandages going bad more quickly than they would otherwise.Įven some things you might not expect like heavy perspiration from your body, and the case of an on body carried first-aid kit and dirt, dust and grit accumulation from wind or just adventures out in the world can slowly and surely start to gnaw its way through the packaging of your bandages, compromising them. Moisture is the enemy of all kinds of things and particularly harmful to soft goods where it will lead to mold, rot and other degradation. The same thing is worth considering if you take your kit with you into a particularly wet or even highly humid environment. The interior of vehicles can become screaming hot or bitterly cold in no time depending on the climate and that means your bandages will have to put up with some punishment. If your first-aid kit goes with you as part of an EDC kit or a go bag that means it’s probably going to be spending some time in your car, at least some of the time. The only way to counter this inescapable fact is to do what you can to keep your bandages safe from humidity and rough weather, and keep a vigilant check on them for any signs of degradation. Unfortunately, our first-aid kits have to go where we go in order to be there when we need them and that means they are typically exposed to the same atmospherics that we are. Things like the overall temperature, temperature swings, humidity and more all play a part.īandages kept in a cool, dark, dry place will last far longer than ones that have to deal with major temperature swings, high humidity and constant bombardment from UV rays. One of the biggest impacts on your bandages lifespan and survivability will come from atmospheric conditions. Keep reading to learn about the various factors you’ll have to keep an eye on. Even if your bandages remain in their original packaging they could still fail after a long period of time. Lastly, traditional gauze bandages or bandages made from other materials woven together can still be made ineffective overtime by exposure to varying atmospheric conditions, friction and other forces. These adhesives and coatings will quite simply break down over time, eventually losing their adhesive quality entirely or performing erratically. The next bandages you should keep an eye on are any incorporating an adhesive component, like the humble Band-Aid, or any bandage that has a coating or outer layer that is designed to stick to itself. These are the bandages you’ll have to watch the closest. ![]() As mentioned above, any bandage that has incorporated a sort of medicine or other chemical agent for various purposes is more than likely going to have a genuine expiration date that should be printed on the package. Generally speaking, the more advanced the bandage the more likely it is that it has a legitimate shelf life. Keep reading to learn the ins and outs of maintaining and rotating bandages of all kinds. Trying to rely on bad or out of date bandages might result in your medical intervention failing when you can least afford it. ![]() You should not take it for granted that the fundamentals require no care, no rotation and no maintenance. They can still help in a pinch if need be, though getting new ones is probably best. These bandages were kept in the bathroom for several years and it shows.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |