tangent
10-27-01, 17:22
Degradation of medical supplies in LT storage.
I recently pulled my old EMS jump bag out of storage at my parents house and was interested to find how different items survived the years. The results were interesting. I should note that it was stored on a dry shelf in a garage closet, generally dark and cool. It was exposed to temperatures from 40 to 120 deg before that.
I can date some contents to 1993, as there was a prescription med bottle bearing that date,. Its been in storage for 6 years; heres how things held up.
M3 bag good condition, still flexible.
First pocket:
BP cuff the bulb is cracked, stiff and leaks. Tubing and bladder seem in fine condition. Shut off valve seems to work fine, gauge (surprisingly) looks to be in calibration, though I have no way to test the viability of any of these things without a new bulb. Anyone know where I can find one?
Stethoscope good condition works fine.
Elastic roller bandage still has pull, but I think less than a new one. Stored in a roll, unstreached.
Gauze rollers paper and plastic package seems worse for wear, but bandages look fine.
Plastic syringes bodies have yellowed, rubber seal intact and still work.
Band-Aids appear viable
Moleskin appears viable
Eye patch and 4x4s appear viable
Triangular bandage still fine but rubber bands holding things together have disintagrated.
5cc Glass syringes moisture or whatever lubricant was in there makes the action hard to work on some of them., reusable needles are fine.
Meds:
Ipecac partially dehydrated, lid was kind of glued on
Betadine in 30 ml squeeze bottle, looks very dark, clear plastic is stained
Hydrogen peroxide in 20 ml dropper bottle dropper bulb has dried up, become stiff and broken, contents evaporated.
Bacid capsules no visible deterioration
Sudafedrine, coated no visible deterioration
Tylenol 3 no visible deterioration, note that this was stored in a 20 ml plastic chemical bottle with a screw on lid. These were not coated tabs, yet they look fine. Moral: moisture and air destroy, these were kept dry. All other pills were stored in pharmacy dispenser bottles or OTC med bottles that lacked an air/moisture proof seal and all show visible deterioration.
Ointments are all bad.
I will not be trusting any of these meds, but may subject them to the WHO identity and degradation tests if I can find them listed in the texts, side by side w/ new meds if I can get them.
Pocket:
Trauma shears, bite block, hemostats, probe, needle holder, bandage scissors, reflex hammer, windshield punch, O2 key, tweezers, dental mirror, thermometer all fine.
2 oral airways fine, but a spider did lay an egg sack in one
pen, ballpoint, bic still writes!
Main compartment:
Bandaging supplies (4x4s, tape, trauma pads, etc) all fine.
Oto-scope and opthalmascope heads I was stupid here and left 2 D batteries in the handle, it corroded. Im looking at salvaging the 3 heads and trying to mount them on a mini-mag flashlight. Ditto for the laryngoscope head. The handles for these things are too big and heavy for a compact kit.
Pocket mask seems to be in good shape and one way valve works fine.
Euginol in dent-aid kit leaked when dropper bulb had same fate as hydrogen peroxide.
Dental tools look fine.
I recently pulled my old EMS jump bag out of storage at my parents house and was interested to find how different items survived the years. The results were interesting. I should note that it was stored on a dry shelf in a garage closet, generally dark and cool. It was exposed to temperatures from 40 to 120 deg before that.
I can date some contents to 1993, as there was a prescription med bottle bearing that date,. Its been in storage for 6 years; heres how things held up.
M3 bag good condition, still flexible.
First pocket:
BP cuff the bulb is cracked, stiff and leaks. Tubing and bladder seem in fine condition. Shut off valve seems to work fine, gauge (surprisingly) looks to be in calibration, though I have no way to test the viability of any of these things without a new bulb. Anyone know where I can find one?
Stethoscope good condition works fine.
Elastic roller bandage still has pull, but I think less than a new one. Stored in a roll, unstreached.
Gauze rollers paper and plastic package seems worse for wear, but bandages look fine.
Plastic syringes bodies have yellowed, rubber seal intact and still work.
Band-Aids appear viable
Moleskin appears viable
Eye patch and 4x4s appear viable
Triangular bandage still fine but rubber bands holding things together have disintagrated.
5cc Glass syringes moisture or whatever lubricant was in there makes the action hard to work on some of them., reusable needles are fine.
Meds:
Ipecac partially dehydrated, lid was kind of glued on
Betadine in 30 ml squeeze bottle, looks very dark, clear plastic is stained
Hydrogen peroxide in 20 ml dropper bottle dropper bulb has dried up, become stiff and broken, contents evaporated.
Bacid capsules no visible deterioration
Sudafedrine, coated no visible deterioration
Tylenol 3 no visible deterioration, note that this was stored in a 20 ml plastic chemical bottle with a screw on lid. These were not coated tabs, yet they look fine. Moral: moisture and air destroy, these were kept dry. All other pills were stored in pharmacy dispenser bottles or OTC med bottles that lacked an air/moisture proof seal and all show visible deterioration.
Ointments are all bad.
I will not be trusting any of these meds, but may subject them to the WHO identity and degradation tests if I can find them listed in the texts, side by side w/ new meds if I can get them.
Pocket:
Trauma shears, bite block, hemostats, probe, needle holder, bandage scissors, reflex hammer, windshield punch, O2 key, tweezers, dental mirror, thermometer all fine.
2 oral airways fine, but a spider did lay an egg sack in one
pen, ballpoint, bic still writes!
Main compartment:
Bandaging supplies (4x4s, tape, trauma pads, etc) all fine.
Oto-scope and opthalmascope heads I was stupid here and left 2 D batteries in the handle, it corroded. Im looking at salvaging the 3 heads and trying to mount them on a mini-mag flashlight. Ditto for the laryngoscope head. The handles for these things are too big and heavy for a compact kit.
Pocket mask seems to be in good shape and one way valve works fine.
Euginol in dent-aid kit leaked when dropper bulb had same fate as hydrogen peroxide.
Dental tools look fine.