When stocking items that are not often used, such as ostomy products or skin care supplies, it is imperative that they be correctly stored, as failure to do so could result in significant stock losses over time. Below are a few handy rules that should be adhered to when stocking rarely used medical supplies and products.

5 Rules for Stocking Rarely Used Medical Supplies

#1 – Keep cool and dry

One of the main concerns that must be taken into consideration when storing skin care products in Canada or even ostomy supplies is temperature. When these supplies are stored at temperatures exceeding 25-30 degrees Celsius, they can start to degrade, rendering them less effective. In some cases, exposing them to excessive heat can render them risky to use as well. If medications are going to be stored in areas that experience severe dampness and/or humidity, it is recommended that a dehumidifier or air conditioning unit be used to keep skin care supplies and ostomy products at a regulated temperature.

#2 – Protect as far as possible

In most instances, skin care products in Canada are not intended to be stored in the shipping boxes that they have been delivered in. This is especially true when it comes to soft or fragile goods such as ostomy supplies and bandage products. Once these products have been delivered, they should be removed from their shipping boxes and preferably stored in clear plastic containers so that it is easy to see what is inside them.

#3 – Rotate regularly

When storing rarely used medical supplies, another factor to consider is expiry or use-by dates. Each year, millions of dollars’ worth of these products is disposed of because they expired – as a result of not being rotated regularly. Each time new supplies are received; older units should be stacked in the front of shelving so that they are used first, while newer stocks should be placed behind them.

#4 – Ensure that everyone is familiar with products

Numerous medical supplies have to remain sealed until such time as they need to be used to ensure that they are kept 100% sterile. This means that these items cannot be stored for future use if they have already been opened. As a result, it is recommended that everyone who will be using these supplies is shown what particular products are used for and how to use them, as this will prevent a significant amount of wastage.

#5 – Don’t over-purchase

Although it may be tempting to stock up on medical supplies when low prices are advertised, a general rule is that you should not purchase more than what will be able to be used by the time the supplies reach their expiry date. Over-purchasing supplies that are rarely used will result in many of them having to be destroyed or disposed of because they have expired before being able to be used.

If you are looking for medical supplies in Canada that seem to be scarce or you are simply looking for a better range of items, contact us at CANMedDirect.ca to see how we can assist you in this regard.