We all should have first aid kits with us, with us in vehicles and in our workplaces right...

So my question is:
What items are you always running out of, and what items are past their expiry date because they never get used?

Bandages and meds. I try to rotate the bandages to training when they reach their expiration date. I do not keep IV fluids in my personal kit.

EXP DATE:

All consumables except OTC pain relievers and anti-acid

RUN OUT:

Nominally: Specialty Band-Aids (finger tip, knuckle, etc.), tape, blister "stuff" (kids sports/dance), instant cold packs, OTC pain relievers and anti-acid.

Emergency: 4x4's, Kerlix, and on occasion Ab-Pads or Feminine Hygiene Pads. (MAJOR blood stopping "stuff")

I just went through the periodic ritual of replenishing our Troop's primary FAK. Seems like with a bunch of boys and dads in the woods on a regular basis, we go through a lot of antiseptic spray, burn gel, eye wash, and various size bandages and adhesive pads. Moleskin gets sliced up into various sized pads during hiking trips too.

The stuff that's always expiring is the OTC meds... pain meds like aspirin, Tylenol, Motrin, and other treatments like Benadryl, Immodium, Pepto, etc. The creams and sprays would expire, but, we seem to use enough that we replace them regularly.

Fortunately, the more major trauma stuff isn't used often. If we start going through Israeli bandages in large quantities for example, I think my days as a Scoutmaster would be very limited

Maybe I should have asked how often you check them too.

Our first aid boxes on the job sites were always running out of small band-aides.

On Saturday 6 of us went to help people affected by floods. There were 2 former Firefighters / 1st Responders amongst us.

The two large first aid kits we took was almost plenty. We treated 71 people for minor cuts and aches. One person was sent to hospital to have a leg wound cleaned and stitched up.

We handed out a ton of spare bandages of all kinds, gauze, tape and Ibuprofen / Tylenol sample packets (Thanks to a charitible and helpful Doctor) throughout the day. The only items we ran short on were examination gloves and tape...but there was just enough to finish the day. The first aid kits also came into use to help treat and wrap one dog's paw and and clean up one horse after he spooked and caught his neck on some barbed wire.

How important is this? Bandaids end up disintegrating over the years...or get brittle. But many ace bandages, gauze components, etc., seem to usually have expiration dates. I've kept and used them long past (years) expiration date. Why do they have them?

It's one thing to keep meds and preps current but cloth items?

Can anyone educate me here?

With the number of first aid components between all the kits and the house, I don't think I could stay current without a 2nd job! It took years to build up.

You point out one problem with the bandages, they lose flexibility, before that happens though, the adhesives will be far less effective. Everyone's probably pulled out a bandage that doesn't stick. It's particularly a problem when your FAK has to endure multiple heat/cold cycles, like in a car. Fortunately, it's the adhesive strips and pads that seem to get the most use for us, so they naturally get rotated.

"...Everyone's probably pulled out a bandage that doesn't stick..."

Oh yeah. I have had better luck with name brand flexible fabric type bandaids, as opposed to store brand plastics...

I've seen expiration dates on gauze pads, gauze wraps, etc. Purpose? Marketing? There is no elastic in them.