Excellent Packable Pocket Reference on Wilderness First Aid
Written: Dec 23 '03
Product Rating:
Pros: Simple and to the point, Quick index for major injuries
Cons: Not much more than a step-by-step manual for major wilderness injuries and emergecies
The Bottom Line: Wilderness First Aid is a useful pocket reference guide to basic first aid when you are in the wilderness far from the comfort of an emergency
jps246's Full Review: Gilbert Preston - Wilderness First Aid: When You C...
Looking for a small book that you can pack with you on your backpacking trips, be they short day trips, or longer wilderness expeditions?
While you won’t be operating on anyone anytime soon, Wilderness First Aid, When You Can’t Call 911, is a useful pocket reference guide to basic first aid when you are in the wilderness far from the comfort of an emergency room or doctor.
Written by Gilbert Preston, M.D., Wilderness First Aid is setup in 23 short chapters that review the basics of what you need to know to take care of yourself, or someone else should there be injury while you are partaking in outdoor wilderness activities. The chapters include:
First Response
CPR
Getting Help
Choking
Shock
Chest Pain
Head Injury
Spinal Injury
Wounds
Blisters
Lightening Injury
Illness Cause By Head
Burn Injury
Bone and Join Fractures
Altitude Sickness
Cold and Exposure Problems
Near Drowning
Bites and Stings
Eye Conditions
Respiratory Infections
Abdominal Pain
Water Purification
Vaccinations
There are also four appendices which include information on what should be in a wilderness first aid kit, a sample accident report form, a guide to developing a medical history for yourself and a list of further suggested reading for people interested in learning more about wilderness first aid.
Setup as a guide to various first aid procedures, each chapter delves into the topic with a brief introduction, followed by step-by-step instruction on how to perform the described first aid activity. The written guide is followed by fairly detailed drawings to further illustrate the first aid methods. The back of the book (the back cover) includes a quick index to quickly flip to pages should you be presented with a certain kind of emergency.
What do I get out of this book?
Wilderness First Aid is first and foremost a pocket reference guide for wilderness first aid. Little background or further information is given beyond the brief introduction to possible injuries and the step-by-step instructions for dealing with those injuries. This book is best for keeping with your wilderness first aid kit as a quick reference for emergency situations. Whenever you are in such a situation, it is always helpful to have some sort of reference to fall back on, even if it’s just for calming yourself down and being able to take stock of a situation.
The included accident report form and medical history forms are invaluable for people in emergency situations. By taking stock and completing these forms (after you stabilize the patient), you are better able to take stock of the situation and can better report the patients condition to the professionals when they arrive or you get the patient out of the wilderness.
So if you are looking for a pocket reference guide to keep with your first aid kit and bring with you on your treks into the wilderness, Wilderness First Aid is an excellent choice that you will not be disappointed in.
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