Customer Reviews

Field Guide to Wilderness Medicine, 3e

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is an excellent condensed version of the full text. It is the only medical field guide I have found that is written for a medical doctor instead of an EMT or paramedic in an austere environment. I am a physician in a military special operations unit and carry it on all deployments, whether in the U.S. or other countries. It is the perfect size to carry with my field gear and trauma pack, and is quick, easy to use, and reccommends very up to date and rapid treatment plans. A must have for all medical professionals practicing in the pre-hospital environment! For medical professionals going to remote locations that are limited by what they can carry on their back, very few texts/guides can be brought along. The solution to this limitation is simple; pack your Sanford, your Pharmacoepia, and THIS BOOK. It is the best text for it's size and weight available.

If you consider Auerbach's Wilderness Medicine text to be "The Bible of Outdoor Medicine," then this will be a welcomed addition to your reference library. The fieldguide takes many of the most important topics from the original text(such as high altitude emergencies, envenomations, and trauma management) and paraphrases them just enough to be of benefit to both the weekend outdoor warrior and the expedition medic. I particularly was interested in the various ways to utilize common outdoor gear and improvise traction devices for orthopedic injuries. This book is also great in that it is small enough to fit comfortably in your backpack or glove compartment, readily accessable when needed. I highly recommend adding this book to your home or office library.

Great resource. Up-to-date with input from the most well-known names in wilderness medicine. Small enough to carry in a backpack, but packed with helpful info. Includes everything from packing/planning to critical care in the wilderness. Best resource I've ever seen for this material.

The book contains much useful information, but is limited by several weaknesses:
1. Evidence-based recommendations are not distinguished from those based on the author's experience or traditional approaches. For example, codeine has been shown not to be an effective anti-tussive. (p. 7)
2. Some recommendations (such as benzodiazepines for "non-altitude related sleep disturbance" while at altitude) seem dangerous on physiological grounds. (p. 7)
3. The information is not organized for maximum clarity. For example, AMS, HAPE, and HACE are treated serially, rather than as variants of a related set of processes requiring similar but distinct treatments.

As other reviews observe, this is a book written for physicians.

Great stand alone or companion book to the larger text. Lots of great info. Will travel with it always. Read it on the airplane...the person next to you will keep peeking at it.

Wonderful book and expanded over last edition. Auerbach and his contributors have created a superb reference with up-to-date topics and treatments.
Not only does it address just about every wilderness medicine topic conceivable, but also a few pages addressing search and rescue and survival. The book has a very complete index.

My only negative is that the thin pages are easy to damage (but lighter) and overall size (922 pages) might not be great for tossing in your pack for a hike.

Further, not the best reference for those who don't have medical training/ experience (it is written for medicine professionals).

Overall if you have an interest in wilderness medicine, get this book. If you travel outdoors, take a course that addresses wilderness medicine, and then get this book!

And the big book "Wilderness Medicine" by Auerbach is fantastic, as well!

This is a great resource for any time you leave your house. Evan more so if you leave the paved road.

After completing my WFR course I wanted the best possible reference to further my knowledge and review to refresh my memory. Every time I grab this book to get advice on a treatment there is either no information or nothing useful. There's info on giving CPR to llamas, but nothing on wound infections, for example. There IS plenty of good stuff, but too many omissions, so I do not recommend this book as a primary reference for wilderness first aid.