sterility of stored first-aid?

[barber oregon]

I've just found about 10 G.I. issue first-aid compresses in storage from my basement. Looks like they were manufactured from '95-97.

They have a musty smell but the plastic pouches are intact. Are these still sterile; how can I remove the smell (it'd be nice to put these into my BOB)?

This incident brings up a more general question: how long can first-aid items such as bandages be stored for and still remain safe to use?

 

[alco141]

you might be able to resterilize them, unwrap and re wrap in foil, in a regular oven bake at 250 degrees for about 2 hours. then wrap in plastic to preserve the sterility. you open one of them to see if they have had water damage or where the musty smell is coming from.

alex

 

[martin j]

Are these the ones in the thick green plaastic? If so i would think they remain sterile indefinitely, until plastic breaks down in 20+ years or it is punctured.
To get rid of smell I would leave in a water/baking soda solution then wash it off.
Good luck-
Martin