Do antiseptic swabs ever expire?

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I'm cleaning out my parents camper that we're going to be borrowing and I ran across their first aid kit. They must not have ever used it since they bought the camper because all the asprin, insect sting relief cream, etc expired back in 2000. There are some individually sealed antiseptic swabs (benzalkonium chloride)though that I'm wondering if I can hang on to.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho.

I wouldnt. If nothing else the paper is degrading and the insides of the package may be contaminated. I would just pitch the whole thing and go to the nearest wally world and buy a new kit for a few bucks.

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meownsmile said:
I wouldnt. If nothing else the paper is degrading and the insides of the package may be contaminated. I would just pitch the whole thing and go to the nearest wally world and buy a new kit for a few bucks.

I ended up just adding 2 new bottles of alcohol and peroxide along with cotton balls and q-tips. Everything else that needed replaced was stuff that I have here at home, so I'm good to go!

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Most anitseptics expire, if they dont expire, then they'll dry out.....If the packaging is compromised, you should always assume its contaminated.

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Specializes in NICU, Infection Control.

Just before a recent JACHO visit, we had to go thru every drawer, bin, shelf, counter top, etc., looking @ expiration dates on all those little packets!!! Apparently, they had been checking them, and dinging facilities if they found an outdated alcohol swab!!!

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