My credentials for addressing the subject at all are only my own experience as a parent.  No one should abandon their brain over a posting on this board. 

I have had the feared experiences.  My first occurred when my second child was under a year old and went into adrenal crisis.  His four year old SWCAH sister had lived zestfully through several viruses and childhood diseases under the watchful and panicked eye of myself and my mother during her first four years of life.  She weathered all events well, some with a shot of solu-medrol, some without. 

It turned out not to be the same for my son.  At about a year of age he gagged on his oatmeal after a few bites and threw up what he had eaten.  He did not want oatmeal, he wanted a bottle.  I checked his temp, he seemed fine.  I gave him the bottle that we had been fighting over, and after a bit of play, put him down for his morning nap.  His nap drug out unusually long and after a couple of hours I tried to wake him.  He would not wake up.  I went straight to the cupboard and got the solu-medrol.  As I was opening it I noticed It was outdated by several months.  I had recently moved under dire circumstances and had evidently used the current one at some point.  Indeed, the children were not sick often and I had so many vials on hand usually that I was not yet aware about checking dates.   I called the endo and was told he would get back to me!  Finally, without much waiting around,  I just gave my son the injection and I rushed him to the hospital (another horrific story in itself)where, in short, he was treated for adrenal crisis and returned home.   

My endocrinologist (an old and wise man) told me I had done the right thing, that it was better to give out dated med than none, and the only concern may be some loss of potency but that it would not hurt the child.    He explained that the law requires an expiration date and there is no way to really be certian that an amount of potency is lost or not lost, it is a precaution.

As to heat exposure, we have repeatedly used heat exposed vials.  My daughter who is quite an adventurer and lives away from home now, uses glove-box vials more than I would advise.  I think it is not a good way to take care of herself.  She should keep new ones and not depend on the glove-box one.  It is an unessessary risk which could endanger her life as you say.   I also wish she would not smoke, and that she would get more sleep and not go into undrground caverns with her hiking buddies. 

What I  know now is that the dose of solu-medrol is a mega dose and not based on known needed amount but so overcalculated as to make sure that no matter what event has happened or what the body size, it will be more than enough to prevent the body going into shock.  My children’s dosing for the injection has only increased once in their lives and they are now adult. 

 Balance.  This is the concept that I hope to communicate.  Constantly focusing on "what if they die"  makes our children disabled.  I know I am more relaxed than some.  I think my children are fortunate that I am.  They are also fortunate that their Grandmother was an obsessive worrier.  We provided balance for one another when the children were entirely dependent on us.  That is why I qualify my Poppycock statement.  It is reasonable to take care, check dates regularly, and observe temperature precautions.  It is unreasonable to throw away an outdated solumedrol instead of throwing it in the glovebox when you also carry one with you.