IV Bag Expiry???

[medicman]

Not too much experience with IV's. I have two 500ml bags of Ringer's lactated injectable with two set up (needles, lines,
roll of tape). Expiry date on bag is 07/02.
Are they good past this date or should I put them in the round file? Anybody want them?
I don't know how to use them. Just extra weight in the medical bag to carry around and
hope that at the same time I need to use them
there is someone who knows around after SHTF.
Any help appreciated.

[Reasonable Rascal]

Okay, here's the deal with expired IV fluids. Unless they are discolored, have floaters or the outer bag has been punctured and the inner bag is exposed (it's a mite porous) they are good. There is nothing in them to break down. Normal saline is salt and water. LR is salt, water and a few minor basic chemicals (bicarb, etc). Nothing is going to degrade, so unless they fail the above-mentioned test the only thing you have to worry about is sterility.

Moral of the story: don't toss them because you think they aren't good any more. Same with most medications, they are good for years after the manufacturer's expiry date.

RR



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Real survivalists can take care of their own sick and injured. http://medtech.syrene.net/

[medicman]

Thanks Rascal. I'll throw them in the kit I carry just in case. 2 500ml aren't that big
or heavy. Should seek some training in that department. Thanks again.

[SOG]

RR:

Mayby a dumb question, but here it is anyway.

Tetracycline is one of those meds that is suppose to be thrown out when it expires is it not? I also heard that the reason was that it breaks down to form substance(s) that can create renal failure, is this true?

Thanks!

[Reasonable Rascal]

Quick and dirty on Tet. That info comes from a minor study dating back to the 60's that has refuted by other researchers since. It seems to be one of those issues that has never been settled. My premise is that I will use it even expired, because whatever I am using it for is far more likely to be a danger than the chance of minor kidney damage. We are also talking long term use here.

Military studies show that Tet does not degrade anywhere near as quickly as once thought, and in fact they found that even stored in temps of 135 degrees during the day for 2 years that it remained viable.

RR

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Real survivalists can take care of their own sick and injured. http://medtech.syrene.net/