# Expired first aid supplies **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 19, 2014, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expired-first-aid-supplies/695910 "2014-08-19T16:44:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![wevets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9a140/32.png) [@wevets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wevets)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expired-first-aid-supplies/695910/1 "2014-08-19T16:44:29Z")
I’ve just replaced the expired first aid kit supplies in several first aid kits - burn cream and antibiotic ointment are the things that needed to be replaced this cycle, and now I have a bunch of packages of expired burn cream and antibiotic ointment. I know that even though these supplies are expired, they’re likely to be OK for a little bit, and slowly decrease in efficacy. It feels like a little bit of a waste to just throw them all out. Is there any potential use these supplies could be put to? Maybe non-human use like in a veterinary hospital? Or is it better just to trash them? ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expired-first-aid-supplies/695910/2 "2014-08-19T17:06:13Z")
Universal law of all “expiration dates” for all products: The expiration date states or implies ONLY one thing: It is the latest date at which the retailer will guarantee the freshness of the product. Whether it remains 'fresh" enough for use for one minute, one day, one month, one year or one decade after that depends largely on the storage and handling conditions prior to (and after) sale. ---
**Author:** ![wevets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9a140/32.png) [@wevets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wevets)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expired-first-aid-supplies/695910/3 "2014-08-19T19:57:47Z")
**jtur88** - I think you’re missing the question - is there anyplace that will accept these as donations or can use them? ---
**Author:** ![PorchePine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/94ad74/32.png) [@PorchePine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PorchePine)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expired-first-aid-supplies/695910/4 "2014-08-19T20:07:20Z")
> [@wevets](#): > > **jtur88** - I think you’re missing the question - is there anyplace that will accept these as donations or can use them? Most places won’t accept expired items. ---
**Author:** ![kinoons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a698b9/32.png) [@kinoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kinoons)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expired-first-aid-supplies/695910/5 "2014-08-19T21:03:55Z")
Just hang on to them – the overwhelming majority of expiration dates on medical supplies are very conserative. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expired-first-aid-supplies/695910/6 "2014-08-19T21:27:48Z")
> [@wevets](#): > > **jtur88** - I think you’re missing the question - is there anyplace that will accept these as donations or can use them? Sure – anyplace that understands the meaning of “expiration dates” and is not locked into flow-chart decision-making mentality… ---
**Author:** ![wevets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9a140/32.png) [@wevets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wevets)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expired-first-aid-supplies/695910/7 "2014-08-19T22:32:17Z")
> [@kinoons](#): > > Just hang on to them – the overwhelming majority of expiration dates on medical supplies are very conserative. I should mention there are 17 first aid kits I’ve removed the ointments & cream from. I don’t think I’ll hang on to them. I might take some home to add to my own first aid kits, but I can’t really do that with all 17. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expired-first-aid-supplies/695910/8 "2014-08-19T23:25:13Z")
Leave them out somewhere in a box marked “Expired medical Supplies. Do not remove.” They will soon go to good homes. ---
**Author:** ![48Willys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/db5fbb/32.png) [@48Willys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/48Willys)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2014, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expired-first-aid-supplies/695910/9 "2014-08-20T07:37:35Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > Leave them out somewhere in a box marked “Expired medical Supplies. Do not remove.” They will soon go to good homes. This! Seriously. It will work. Some folks can not resist something that is marked FREE. ---
**Author:** ![PorchePine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/94ad74/32.png) [@PorchePine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PorchePine)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2014, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expired-first-aid-supplies/695910/10 "2014-08-20T08:30:35Z")
> [@48Willys](#): > > This! Seriously. It will work. Some folks can not resist something that is marked FREE. If it’s free, nobody wants it. If it seems valuable, then they do want it. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2014, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expired-first-aid-supplies/695910/11 "2014-08-20T11:58:32Z")
I thought about this later. That burn cream needs to go in the bin and not replaced. The correct first aid for burns is water first, and then, if it is serious, clingfilm and hospital. Cream could well make things much worse. If it is painful, then paracetamol is the answer. > **[Burns and scalds - Treatment](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/burns-and-scalds/treatment/)** > > Appropriate first aid must be used to treat any burns or scalds as soon as possible. This will limit the amount of damage to your skin. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2014, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expired-first-aid-supplies/695910/12 "2014-08-20T12:38:11Z")
You could try a homeless shelter or battered women’s shelter. Other than that, maybe a Boy Scout Troop. Also, like bob++ said, I didn’t think people still use burn cream. That reminds me of back in the day when grandma would put condiments on burns (what was it, butter or mayo or something). ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2014, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expired-first-aid-supplies/695910/13 "2014-08-20T13:02:03Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > That reminds me of back in the day when grandma would put condiments on burns (what was it, butter or mayo or something). Mayo is for gum in your hair. For burns, creamy peanut butter. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2014, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expired-first-aid-supplies/695910/14 "2014-08-20T14:23:59Z")
> [@wevets](#): > > **jtur88** - I think you’re missing the question - is there anyplace that will accept these as donations or can use them? Churches with overseas missions to support. Works for prescription drugs as well but that can get a little complicated. Our congregation used to gather boxes of stuff like that and send it/have it sent into Costa Rico and Africa. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2014, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expired-first-aid-supplies/695910/15 "2014-08-20T14:48:25Z")
I’ve wondered about this question. My son has a peanut allergy, and so we are likely to be looking at a pile of expired EpiPens as the years go by. I don’t really feel comfortable putting those out with a “Free” sign, though. Until I figure out something better, I’ve just been squirting it into my coffee. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2014, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expired-first-aid-supplies/695910/16 "2014-08-20T14:50:09Z")
Since this is essentially medical advice, let’s move it to IMHO. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![wevets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9a140/32.png) [@wevets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wevets)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2014, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expired-first-aid-supplies/695910/17 "2014-08-22T18:17:01Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > I thought about this later. That burn cream needs to go in the bin and not replaced. The correct first aid for burns is water first, and then, if it is serious, clingfilm and hospital. Cream could well make things much worse. If it is painful, then paracetamol is the answer. > > [http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Burns-and-scalds/Pages/Treatment.aspx](http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Burns-and-scalds/Pages/Treatment.aspx) This is a really good point - I just refilled the first aid kits based on what was in it when I checked. But since the burn cream is useless, I’ll ditch it all. Thanks, **bob++**. 🙂