Old first aid supplies

[LittleLegsCM]

Afternoon all,

Sorry if this is a silly question but just wanted to double check.

I've got a load of old/out of date bandages, slings etc, are we allowed to keep them as 'toys' for the kiddies? I'm thinking of just putting a small selection in a box for them to play hospitals with etc.
obviously nothing medicated just the plain bandages and triangle slings and that type of thing.

[caz3007]

i am sure I read on here someone else doing that. What a great roll play opportunity

[starlight1]

I don't see why not...

A lot of the reason for these dates is as they are supposed to be sterile and a that can't be garunteed indefinately but for a play toys don't need to be sterile

[Samcat]

I went to an LA conference yesterday where there was a room of various people selling books, toys etc. There was a chap selling first aid supplies and he had a basket of out of date plasters, bandages etc labelled as suitable to buy for role play.

[Chatterbox Childcare]

That is a great idea. I put mine in my own first aid cabinet - never heard of a sling or crepe bandage being out of date but the packaging says it does

[jayne]

I have some out of date bandages and slings in the doctors set the children love them they even use them on the soft toys and play vets

[blue bear]

We have been playing doctors lots just lately with all the out of date dressings oh and gloves, children won't touch 'wounds' without gloves"In case of germs"

[nikki thomson]

I really don't understand how a bandage can be out of date, is it me?!!!!, were date obsessed in this country. X

[PixiePetal]

Mine always go into the play medical case. Mindees are really into it at the moment, I got a bargain ELC case from ebay and added a few bandages to it. I spend my days wrapping dollies up like mummies!

[MessybutHappy]

I've always done this.

By the way bandages make great soft supports for plants too!

[samb]

I also use mine for play. In fact my "doctor kit" for role play is... an old first aid box and in it I have put - a medicine syringe, tweezers from the sterilising kit (that you use for picking up teats), old bandages and slings, a stethascope that came with a doll, a plastic hammer (purely as you seem to have them in doctors kits don't you?!), a couple of medicine spoons and old empty boxes from medicines/tablets, a pad and a pencil. Any other ideas that people would use?

[littlecheeks]

yes i use my old ones in the drs set too! although the temptation to bandage the kids up is sometimes appealing!

[clareelizabeth1]

I have some out of date bandages and slings in the doctors set the children love them they even use them on the soft toys and play vets

Me too , all the children love it.

[hectors house]

Role play what a great idea - I have just ordered contents for both my first aid boxes (house & car) and was going to just offer about to expire stuff to the parents for their own use - I already have plenty of out of date stuff in my bathroom cabinet.

[lynncjt]

I'm going to do the same, but think I will cut the bandages into small lengths as I have a fear of strangulation.

[Helen Dempster]

I keep my old bandages for our toy first aid box - just be careful of the length (risk asses!) cos of potential strangulation

oh, and be prepared to end up looking like a Mummy! ha ha ha