KitoraWhat should you do with damaged or opened sterile supplies?
An opened or damaged sterile wrapper cannot be relied on to protect its contents. Set the item aside and replace it with an intact pack.
If a sterile supply has been opened or its wrapper is torn, punctured, wet or unsealed, do not rely on it as sterile. Set it aside and replace it with an intact pack.
Check the individual wrapper
Look at the wrapper around each sterile item, not only the kit’s outer case. A dressing may still look clean after its seal has been damaged, but you can no longer count on the package to protect it. Keep sterile items in their original sealed wrappers until they are needed.
If you cannot tell whether the seal is intact, replace the item. Drying a wet wrapper or taping it closed does not restore its seal.
Replace it before restocking
Keep a compromised pack out of the ready-to-use kit. Choose a replacement with an intact wrapper and a current expiry date, and follow the maker’s storage instructions.
After using or replacing supplies, check that the other sterile items are still sealed, then, for workplace stock, update the workplace first aid kit checklist or workplace inspection record. For the other items in your kit, see how expiry dates apply to first aid supplies.
