How to store dressings so they last
The bathroom cabinet is the worst place in the house for a first aid kit.
Storage conditions determine whether a dressing reaches its printed expiry date in usable condition.
What to avoid
- Heat — degrades adhesive quickly. Cars in summer are brutal on dressings.
- Humidity — bathrooms and kitchens. Steam finds its way into packaging seals.
- Direct sunlight — UV degrades packaging films.
- Compression — a box crushed at the bottom of a bag has creased seals.
Where to keep it
A cool, dry, dark cupboard at a stable temperature. A hallway or bedroom cupboard beats a bathroom every time.
Keeping them individually wrapped
Do not decant individually sealed dressings into a tin or a zip bag. The individual sachet is the sterile barrier, and removing it turns a sterile product into a clean one.
Vehicle and outdoor kits
Accept that these will not last as long. Check them more often, and treat a car kit as consumable rather than permanent.
See a pharmacist, GP or urgent care if a wound will not stop bleeding after ten minutes of firm pressure, is deep or gaping, was caused by something dirty or rusty, contains anything you cannot flush out, or shows spreading redness, heat, swelling, pus or a fever. Get help urgently for animal or human bites, wounds over a joint, and any wound in someone with diabetes or poor circulation.
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FitMedix products are CE-marked medical devices intended for the care of minor wounds. This site does not provide medical advice — seek professional help for deep, dirty or non-healing wounds, or if signs of infection appear. Always read the instructions on the pack.