Customer Reviews

ACEP First Aid Manual, 3rd Edition

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book really does a great job of organizing and conveying information to the lay-person. It has a couple short introductory chapters that are meant to be read before the need to treat anyone arises, to give you a quick overview of how to approach emergencies. Most of the rest of the book is about diagnosing and treating people, and is organized into groups the average person can understand. This part is designed to be referenced as you're helping someone. The categories names are printed down the left edge of each page, and the page edges are colored, so you can just flip with your thumb and find what you're looking for very quickly. The specific conditions are written down the right edge.

The categories are
- Respiratory problems
- Wounds and Circulation
- Bone, Joint, and Muscle Injuries
- Nervous system problems
- Effects of heat and cold
- Foreign Objects, Poisoning, Bites and Stings
- Medical Conditions (illnesses)

For each condition, there are bullet points for diagnosing it, what your goals are in providing first aid for it, and things to avoid doing. This gets you the important information quickly without getting bogged down. Then there are simple numbered steps for treating the person, along with lots of good illustrative pictures as needed. Each condition also has a short paragraph or two explaining the hows and whys. When providing first-aid for someone, you'd probably skip over this and on to treatment (easy to do since treatment steps are bolded), and then come back and read it once things are somewhat under control. It gives a little more detail about what causes the problem and what the main risks are.

Next is a chapter on techniques and equipment, which covers what you should have in your first aid kit and how to use it. This is another good chapter to read in advance, but it can also be referenced quickly if needed. Last is a chapter on Emergency First Aid, which serves as an even-quicker reference for the most common serious conditions. By placing it at the back, it will be the first section people come across when flipping through with their thumb.

It's too bad this book doesn't have the 'Look Inside' option, because it's hard to get across how extremely well organized it is. It covers lots of info but it's easy to follow, and you can get just the right level of information quickly so you can help someone in a hurry. Kudos to the publisher because writing an easy to follow, well organized manual on any topic is really hard.

bought this manual after reviewing several at the local library. By far this one has the most easy to read graphics/pictures. Also wanted something very comprehensive if there should be an earthquake and somebody suffers a severe injury AND we are on our own for several days.
Right now this manual is stored with my other earthquake supplies.

The kids can easily follow the step by step directions, photos, and standard scenarios. The book covers every malady except those that requires hospitalization or surgery. I keep a copy in my library and one in my emergency earthquake bag.

"First Aid Manual 3rd Edition: The Step-by-Step Guide for Everyone" by DK and the American College of Emergency Physicians and Medical Editor-in-Chief Gina M. Piazza, MD, is a great little handbook of first aid information. It's logically organized, contains clear instruction and descriptions, and provides many full color photographs and illustrations. You never know when you might need to respond to a medical emergency, and reading a guide such as this First Aid Manual before you need it, and then having it handy as a reference is wise preparation before you need it.

The book has a short introduction on how to use the book, and then a chapter on becoming a first aider. This is good information for anyone who might have to help another. The second chapter deals with managing an incident, also very important for anyone offering assistance to others in an emergency.

Starting with chapter three, the book begins dealing with actual first aid, starting with with assessing victims. Next come chapters on the unconscious victim; respiratory problems; wounds and circulation; bone, joint, and muscle injuries; nervous system problems; effects of heat and cold; foreign objects, poisoning, bites and stings; medical conditions; techniques and equipment; emergency first aid; and finally an appendix with two pages of first aid regulations and an index.

The chapters are color coded to make it easier to find what you need, and the index is also useful in making it easier to find what you need when time is of essence. The book contains much more than just a few first aid basics. I like that the text explains the body and what is happening behind different types of wounds and injuries to help the reader better understand the nature of the problem and why the recommended course of action is advised and what you can expect from delivering the first aid to the person who needs it. The book also contains cross referencing throughout, such as under rib injuries it suggests you might also want to look under abdominal wounds, penetrating chest wounds, or shock, and the page numbers are provided.

The entries also include side bars on recognition, your aims, and cautions for the conditions and treatments provided throughout the text. The book is really very well done, and an excellent guide on first aid. I highly recommend it for anyone looking for a first aid manual to read and have on hand for emergencies that may arise.

Reviewed by Alain Burrese, J.D., author of Hard-Won Wisdom From the School of Hard Knocks.

Apparently, the ACEP made improvements over the Second Edition by including a separate section entitled "Emergency First Aid" in this new Third Edition. This section is located in chapter 13, which is at the end of the manual. It was created to be referred to quickly during an actual life-threatening emergency. It is clear and concise, with excellent photos. As a result, this ACEP Third Edition is a useful reference to use in "dire emergencies," as well as other less serious emergencies.

Catherine Rucker, EMT-1

This is a book that everyone should have in their home. However, usually when a medical situation occurs you don't have time to grab a book and look up what to do. So make sure you read and study this book!

This one has the best collection of first aid instructions and photos for home use.

Nicely weighted book that covers all the basics. Great for the everyday layman and easy to read. Great for emergency kits.

As a nurse going to a summer camp out of my hospital comfort zone, I was hoping this would fill in some of the knowledge gaps I had about on the scene First Aid. I found it very basic and not very helpful, and some information I thought was really lacking. For instance it had detailed instructions on how to take a blood pressure, but had no information on what was normal or what would need treatment/follow up. There was some basic treatment info on certain things like snake bites and stings that I considered needed information, but overall I think there are probably better resources out there.

My husband and I wanted to brush up on our first aid (now that we have little kids) and consider this book a must for every home. It is a great reference guide and very easy to navigate through. It's great!