Originally Posted By: nursemike
[quote=Jakam]

"Wound packing" is an interesting term. IME, it is applied to treatment of a draining wound to maintain an opening to permit drainage to continue. If a boil/abscess is lanced, the wound will be packed with iodoform or plain gauze ribbon(or a latex drain), so that the wound does not close and trap infected material or blood inside, causing another abscess or hematoma. Stopping the bleeding, or hemostatsis, involves bulky dressings and pressure-Kerlix sponges, abdominal pads, tampons (generic term for big rolls of gauze), surgical sponges, wrapped up in ace bandages, or with manual pressure.

This pretty much hits it on the head as far as I've seen. However, Kerlix or 4x4s I've heard work well. But, technically, pressure is the approved blood-stopping procedure. The problem with packing is that, while it may work, at some point you have to remove it... along with the clot... and you're back to square one.

As for expiration dates, I kind of feel the same way - useless. I bet it's an FDA thing more than a sterility thing. I've personally used an IV that was 2 years past prime, and nothing bad happened. Well, besides the hangover, but that was the reason I had it in the first place.