First Aid Kit Expiry & Restocking Checklist
A full-looking first aid kit can still be short of usable supplies. An expired dressing, a torn wrapper or the last pair of gloves used yesterday can leave a gap that the case itself does not reveal.
Quick answer: Inspect each component, not just the date on the case. Check its label, packaging, condition and quantity against your contents list. The Canadian Red Cross recommends a six-month check, immediate restocking after use and replacement of expired, damaged or contaminated items. Workplace inspection requirements may be stricter.
Does a first aid kit expire?
Do not assign the whole kit a single shelf life unless the manufacturer explicitly does so. Check the individual labels and instructions: replacing one dated item does not renew the rest of the kit, and an inspection sticker is not a substitute for checking the contents.
A tool without an expiry date still needs a condition check. Likewise, an unopened packet should not be counted as ready just because it looks clean if its labelled expiry has passed. If a date or storage instruction is unclear, verify it with the manufacturer or supplier.
When should you check it?
- At home: use the Red Cross six-month recommendation as a recurring reminder, and replenish supplies after use.
- Before a trip or group activity: add a pre-use check to your routine, then account for anything used or damaged afterwards. This is a practical planning recommendation, not a legal inspection interval.
- At work: follow the inspection schedule and contents requirements that apply to your workplace. Do not assume the household interval is sufficient.
For workplaces covered by the Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, section 16.5(4), employers must inspect first aid stations regularly, at least monthly, and keep their contents clean, dry and serviceable. That requirement is not a Canada-wide rule for every kit.
Not sure which workplace rules to use? Start with our Canadian workplace first aid kit requirements guide, then confirm with the relevant authority. This article covers maintenance, not a complete workplace assessment or first aid treatment.
Sort every item: Ready, Replace, Verify or Missing
Bring the kit, its current contents list and a clean work surface. Read labels without opening packaging that must remain sealed. Use these four working categories to keep uncertain stock separate from supplies you have checked.
| Status | What you found | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| Ready | Correct item; within labelled expiry where applicable; packaging and condition meet its instructions. | Count it toward usable stock and return it to its compartment. |
| Replace | Expired, used, contaminated or damaged; a required seal is broken. | Remove it from ready stock. Replace it and follow applicable disposal instructions. |
| Verify | Unreadable label, uncertain storage history or an unfamiliar substitute. | Check documentation before counting it as usable. Keep the unresolved shortage visible. |
| Missing | The required item is absent, or the usable count is below your target. | Record the exact specification and quantity to replenish. |
These are editorial inventory categories, not regulatory kit classifications.
What to look at while sorting
- Dressings and bandages: read the label and inspect wrappers for tears, openings or moisture. Do not open a sterile packet to inspect what is inside.
- Wipes and sealed packs: check dates and look for leaks or damaged seals. Keep the original labelling available.
- Gloves and barrier devices: check the labelled storage and expiry guidance, packaging and correct type or size. Verify unfamiliar replacements instead of assuming all disposable gloves are interchangeable.
- Reusable tools: check condition and function, and follow cleaning or decontamination instructions. The Red Cross advises decontaminating reusable equipment after each use.
- Case and information: check closures, accessibility, the contents list and emergency contact information.
Turn the audit into a restocking list
Count usable items, not everything still inside the pouch. Start with your approved contents list; if you need a household starting point, see what should be in a first aid kit. A generic household list does not establish workplace minimums.
Quantity to replenish = target quantity − verified usable quantity. If the result is below zero, record zero. Keep the unit consistent: a box, a pair and an individual item are different counts.
| Item on your list | Target | Usable | Replenish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individually sealed dressing of the specified size | 8 | 5 | 3 |
If there are eight packets but three fail inspection, the usable count is five. On your own worksheet, record the exact product specification, unit, target, usable count, shortage and replacement status for each item.
Individual supplies or a refill pack?
For a few gaps, compare first aid supplies available from 72hours.ca against your restocking list. For a larger refresh, compare a refill pack's itemised contents with the kit you maintain. Check kit type, size, required standard edition where applicable, item specifications and quantities. A similar name or a higher piece count does not establish a match.
Replace the full kit if its case cannot protect the contents or it no longer suits the people and setting. Our first aid kit selection guide can help you reassess before browsing complete first aid kits.
Ordered is not restocked. Keep shortages open until replacements arrive, pass inspection and are placed in the kit. At work, notify the responsible person immediately and follow the site's procedure for restoring required first aid coverage; an order confirmation does not resolve missing supplies.
Check storage before putting everything back
Follow each product's storage instructions. If you find moisture, damaged packaging or uncertain exposure conditions, address the storage problem as well as the affected contents.
In Alberta, OHS Code section 179 requires accessible supplies maintained in clean, dry, serviceable condition and a container that protects them from the environment. WorkSafeBC guidance similarly calls for clean, dry, accessible kits ready for use, and specifies latex-free contents.
Your first aid kit restocking checklist
Copy or print this checklist and keep it with the inventory. Use a separate record for each kit.
- Confirm the kit's location, owner and current contents list.
- Check the case, labels and access.
- Inspect every item's date, packaging and condition.
- Separate Ready, Replace, Verify and Missing items.
- Record usable counts and exact replacement quantities.
- Obtain replacements; check and put them away.
- Keep unresolved shortages assigned to a named person.
- Record completion and the next inspection date.
Kit ID / location: ____________________
Checked by / date: ____________________
Open shortages / action owner: ____________________
Restocking completed: ____________________
Next inspection: ____________________
Common restocking questions
What if the expiry date is unreadable?
Use the product name and lot information to ask the manufacturer or supplier. Until resolved, mark it Verify rather than assuming it is in date. Replace it if you cannot establish that it meets the kit's requirements.
Can I keep expired supplies as backup stock?
Do not count them as usable kit stock. Follow replacement and disposal instructions; keeping expired items mixed with ready supplies makes later checks less reliable.
Do I need to replace everything during each inspection?
No. Inspect each component and replace what is due or missing. Keep verified, serviceable supplies that still meet your contents list. Reassess the whole kit when the setting or requirements change.
Ready to close the gaps? Use your completed inventory to shop first aid supplies. Match specifications and quantities before ordering, then record when the kit is actually replenished.
Sources and review scope
Primary sources checked on 14 September 2026: Canadian Red Cross kit maintenance; Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, s.16.5(4); Alberta OHS Code, s.179; and WorkSafeBC first aid kits and equipment.
The sorting system and worksheet are practical editorial tools, not a certification of any kit. Follow current product instructions and the rules for your setting.
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