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Medicine for the Outdoors: The Essential Guide to First Aid and Medical Emergency, 5th Edition
Named a top 10 medical title in 2009 by the Wall Street Journal.
Since 1986, Medicine for the Outdoors has been hailed as the definitive take-along manual on the subject. Packed with step-by-step instructions, how-to explanations, and practical approaches to outdoor and wilderness emergencies, it tells you the best ways to respond to just about any medical problem when help is miles or days away. Author Paul S. Auerbach, MD, MS, FACEP, FAWM, is recognized as one of the world's leading authorities on wilderness medicine. This 5th edition features major updates to bring you the latest on emerging infectious diseases...the most current drug and dosage information...an increased emphasis on making do with the materials at hand...and much more. Logically organized, easy to reference, and simple to understand, Medicine for the Outdoors may literally save your life. When you're venturing into mountains, deserts, forests, jungles, or out to sea, it belongs in your duffel or backpack!
Provides the most diverse and comprehensive coverage of medical conditions related to the outdoors.
Offers logical and complete explanations of every topic.
Includes numerous drawings and instructions to enhance your understanding of the descriptive material.
Contains recommendations for injury and illness prevention.
Features a comprehensive index that helps you locate answers quickly.
Offers an increased emphasis on making do with the materials at hand (like using a fanny pack as a cervical collar).
Presents the latest guidance on dangerous infections like methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), avian flu, and West Nile virus.
Offers current and accurate drug and dosage information via careful updates throughout.
Provides new safety recommendations on avalanches, forest fires, bear attacks, and more.
Demonstrates how to apply various bandages and splints with the aid of brand-new drawings.
Since 1986, Medicine for the Outdoors has been hailed as the definitive take-along manual on the subject. Packed with step-by-step instructions, how-to explanations, and practical approaches to outdoor and wilderness emergencies, it tells you the best ways to respond to just about any medical problem when help is miles or days away. Author Paul S. Auerbach, MD, MS, FACEP, FAWM, is recognized as one of the world's leading authorities on wilderness medicine. This 5th edition features major updates to bring you the latest on emerging infectious diseases...the most current drug and dosage information...an increased emphasis on making do with the materials at hand...and much more. Logically organized, easy to reference, and simple to understand, Medicine for the Outdoors may literally save your life. When you're venturing into mountains, deserts, forests, jungles, or out to sea, it belongs in your duffel or backpack!
Provides the most diverse and comprehensive coverage of medical conditions related to the outdoors.
Offers logical and complete explanations of every topic.
Includes numerous drawings and instructions to enhance your understanding of the descriptive material.
Contains recommendations for injury and illness prevention.
Features a comprehensive index that helps you locate answers quickly.
Offers an increased emphasis on making do with the materials at hand (like using a fanny pack as a cervical collar).
Presents the latest guidance on dangerous infections like methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), avian flu, and West Nile virus.
Offers current and accurate drug and dosage information via careful updates throughout.
Provides new safety recommendations on avalanches, forest fires, bear attacks, and more.
Demonstrates how to apply various bandages and splints with the aid of brand-new drawings.
576 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1969
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 10, 2012
Everyone who's read this book should be at least somewhat familiar with Dr. Auerbach - he has tons of literature published about emergency medical intervention - planes, trains, cars, woods, etc. Really fascinating guy.
So, I expected this text would be pretty interesting and it didn't disappoint. It was interesting but it wasn't what I was expecting.
Let me give it to you like this.
In the text, Auerbach talks about how to treat a poisonous spider bite. As someone who is medically competent, I know that venom of any kind works in a similar fashion - venom is inflammatory, cutting off the blood supply and destroying that tissue. This begins necrotic activity. Obviously, slowing this process by applying ice and getting them to a hospital asap is a good idea - one that Auerbach recommends in this text. If you were really in a wilderness situation though, show me where you would get ice and also be able to get a helicopter to come evacuate you. Perhaps you packed a really awesome first aid kit that had instant cold packs and GPS locater.
The reality is that you probably won't have these things. Auerbach should have talked about lancing and irrigating the puncture site and the excision of necrotic tissue + infection control. This book really deserved to be written from the POV that you were the only medically competent person within a 50-mile radius that could provide assistance. If that is what you're looking for then don't bother reading this book.
In fact, if you find a text that is written like that, I fully encourage you to send me the title.
So, I expected this text would be pretty interesting and it didn't disappoint. It was interesting but it wasn't what I was expecting.
Let me give it to you like this.
In the text, Auerbach talks about how to treat a poisonous spider bite. As someone who is medically competent, I know that venom of any kind works in a similar fashion - venom is inflammatory, cutting off the blood supply and destroying that tissue. This begins necrotic activity. Obviously, slowing this process by applying ice and getting them to a hospital asap is a good idea - one that Auerbach recommends in this text. If you were really in a wilderness situation though, show me where you would get ice and also be able to get a helicopter to come evacuate you. Perhaps you packed a really awesome first aid kit that had instant cold packs and GPS locater.
The reality is that you probably won't have these things. Auerbach should have talked about lancing and irrigating the puncture site and the excision of necrotic tissue + infection control. This book really deserved to be written from the POV that you were the only medically competent person within a 50-mile radius that could provide assistance. If that is what you're looking for then don't bother reading this book.
In fact, if you find a text that is written like that, I fully encourage you to send me the title.
December 29, 2013
I read the original 1986 edition cover to cover. Purchased the 5th edition based on that reading. expected some updates and a new cover. I was happy to see a great deal of information had been added (suture techniques, proper tourniquet use, and so on) along with many updates. Definitely recommend the 5th edition over the original.
December 24, 2013
Lots of good information here about triage, management of minor and major injuries, good section on poisonous plants/animals, animal injuries, extrication of injured persons and so on. Strong and fair caution against the use of tourniquets and closing wounds in the wilderness environment. Great foundational information.
No mention of blood-borne pathogens. I expect that this was due to the timing of the 1986 publication and that the manuscript had been prepared before the HIV epidemic in the early 1980s. I expect more recent editions address this issue.
Also related to the date of publication, there is no mention of the use of AEDs, more recently developed medications for common ailments like seasonal allergies and topical antibiotics for minor wounds.
I have ordered the most recent edition for my home library and I expect to find many of the aforementioned criticisms to have been addressed.
No mention of blood-borne pathogens. I expect that this was due to the timing of the 1986 publication and that the manuscript had been prepared before the HIV epidemic in the early 1980s. I expect more recent editions address this issue.
Also related to the date of publication, there is no mention of the use of AEDs, more recently developed medications for common ailments like seasonal allergies and topical antibiotics for minor wounds.
I have ordered the most recent edition for my home library and I expect to find many of the aforementioned criticisms to have been addressed.
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February 9, 2017Medicine for the Outdoors by Auerbach @2009, ISBN: 9780323068130, PB, eBay $23.00
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews