Shelf Life Guide
Most of your kit never expires. The items below are the exceptions.
Treat these dates as estimates, and defer to any printed expiration dates. We won't ship you anything that is about to expire, but you still need to check the dates on arrival and keeping an eye on your supplies. Heat, humidity, and UV light shorten the life of many of these items.
| Item | Shelf Life | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Water & Sanitation | ||
| Stored water (WaterBrick containers) | 6 Months | Rotate every 6-12 months. Follow proper filling procedures when rotating. |
| Water purification tablets | 4-5 years | Follow printed expiration date. |
| Liquid bleach | 6–12 months | Potency drops even if unopened. Heat and light rapidly acceleration degredation. Replace every year when sanitizing water containers. |
| Hand sanitizer | 2–3 years | Alcohol content decreases over time and accelerates if exposed to heat or container is opened. Follow printed expiration date. |
| Medical | ||
| First Aid Kit | 2-3 years | Individual items such as ointments, medications, and bandages expire after a few years. Each item should be labeled with an expiration date, and the kit as a whole is labeled for the earliest expiration date of its contained items. |
| Nitrile exam gloves | 3–5 years | Inspect for brittleness or tackiness before use. |
| Shower replacement wipes | 2 years | Follow printed expiration date. |
| Medications | ||
| Pain reliever (ibuprofen / acetaminophen) | 3–5 years | Follow printed expiration date. Store away from light, heat, and humidity. |
| Antacids | 3 years | Follow printed expiration date. Store away from light, heat, and humidity. |
| Laxatives | 2–3 years | Follow printed expiration date. Store away from light, heat, and humidity. |
| Electrolyte packets | 2–3 years | Follow printed expiration date. Store away from light, heat, and humidity. |
| Shelter & Warmth | ||
| Hand warmers | 3-4 years | Keep sealed. Discard if packaging has been punctured or feels warm at rest. May still have some effect after printed expiration date, but will be less powerful. |
| Body warmers | 3-4 years | Keep sealed. Discard if packaging has been punctured or feels warm at rest. May still have some effect after printed expiration date, but will be less powerful. |
| PPE | ||
| Fire extinguisher | 10 years | Regularly check pressure gauge, ensure hose is clear of debris and canister body is in good condition. |
| N95 respirators (sealed) | 3-5 years | Store away from UV light and humidity. Inspect straps before use. |
| Electronics & Power | ||
| AAA alkaline batteries | 7–10 years | Check for corrosion annually. Replace at the first sign of leakage. |
| Tools | ||
| Disposable lighter | 1–3 years | Fuel evaporates slowly over time. Replace if sparks but won't ignite. |
| Waterproof matches | Indefinite | Keep dry and sealed. Inspect striker strip every 2 years. |