Medicine for the Outdoors: The Essential Guide to Emergency Medical Procedures and First Aid

by Paul S. Auerbach

Book Overview

Since 1986, Medicine for the Outdoors has been hailed as the definitive take-along manual on the subject. Packed with step-by-step instructions and how-to explanations, this updated edition tells you... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1558217231
• ISBN13: 9781558217232
• Release Date: January 1999
• Publisher: Lyons Press
• Length: 499 Pages
• Weight: 1.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

The best guideout there. Period.

As a Wilderness EMT and wilderness medicine instructor, I often find myself asking myself questions or being asked questions that I wouldhave otherwise never conjured up. Needless to say, I wouldn't carry this "bible of the backcountry" with me everywhere I go while out enjoying mother nature's splendor, but it certainly has its own spot in my emergency medicine library collection! Well written, easy to follow and understand, and the graphics are clear and concise. A great resource for any Wilderness First Aider, WFR or even WEMT! Clif Castleman Center for Wilderness Safety

Outstanding advice for hikers and other outdoor adventurers

This new edition is a standard handbook for anyone participating in outdoor activities or eco-tourism. Dr. Auerbach is an emergency surgeon and authority in wilderness medicine. He maintains a superb website called "Outdoor Health" (link in the first Comment). Dr. Auerbach offers advice on both minor and major injuries, from shark and snake bites to lightning strikes, wound care, blister management and procedures for a being stranded by a snowstorm in your car. His prose is clear and careful, and he is a great believer in prevention as well as a great resource for emergency treatment of patients far from professional medical care. An example of his writing: "One gives up very little (nothing, really) and gains everything by wearing a helmet in the appropriate circumstances. Freedom of choice is a selfish concept when one considers that the head-injured victim forces loved ones or society to provide care and the financial resources to manage the injury and rehabilitation, and sadly, support for the disabled person, who might have avoided most of the injury by wearing a helmet. "There is no excuse for not wearing a helmet approved for high risk (for head injury) situations. It is no different than wearing a seat belt in a car or washing your hands before you eat. Prevention is the name of the game. Having cared for many people with devastating head injuries, most of which would have been trivial or absent if a helmet had been worn, I can only hope that we do what it takes to mandate helmet use in every reasonable situation for which they would be of benefit. That is a necessary and appropriate use of the law." If you are only a weekend hiker like me, or take on more challenging pursuits, get to know Dr. Auerbach, either on his blog or better yet on this excellent guide. Robert C. Ross 2009

Bring DOC along on your next adventure

We're kitesurfers, heli-skiers and scuba divers. Stuff is always happening to us or those around us in remote places. We have learned to rely on medical reference books out of necessity. I have several at home (A comprehensive Guide to Marine Medicine, Emergency Medical Treatment, The Pocket Doctor: A Passport to Healthy Travel) and this is by far the most complete, easy to use and useful of the bunch. Three examples of how I have used the book in the past come to mind. An unexpected storm came in quickly once while we were kitesurfing off shore. Although we headed back when we saw the weather change, by the time we made it on shore lightning was striking less than 50 feet away. Once on shore, I asked if anyone knew what to do if one of us got hit. No one had a clue. When I got home I grabbed my trusted "Medicine for the Outdoors", where I found an entire section on lightning, how to avoid it and what to do in the event someone gets hit. I have also had occasion to use the book while traveling abroad. When you get sick in a foreign country, especially if you don't speak the language, life becomes pretty miserable quickly. It was wonderful to have a resource to identify what was ailing me and even what could cure me. I took the book to the nearby pharmacist and pointed at the suggested remedies and prescriptions. The pharmacist knew right away what the local name for the pharmaceutical was and relief was just a pill away. The book covers everything from the remote (male genital problems :-)) to the mundane (traveler's diarrhea). It also has a helpful first aid refresher chapter as well as suggested supplies for a first aid kit. I used the book to create my own first aid kit on board. This book has and continues to be a great resource for us. It is written clearly and intuitively for both beginners and the more advanced.

medicine for the outdoors

This book is excellent for the novice and review for medical professional for medical problems at home, outdoors or on vacation. Sports injuries,snake bites and other first aid issues, this book covers it.

medicine for the outdoors

This book is excellent for the novice and review for medical professional for medical problems at home, outdoors or on vacation.Sports injuries,snake bites and other first aid issues, this book covers it.