First Responder (6th Edition) [Paperback]

J. David Bergeron (Author), Gloria Bizjak (Author), David Bergeron (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0130307262 | ISBN-13: 978-0130307262 | Publication Date: December 14, 2000 | Edition: 6

For First Responder-level training courses.This text is the foundation for the First Responder curriculum designed to provide students with a patient assessment-based approach to individual and team First Responder-level care. Written in easy-to-understand language with many examples and illustrations, the text provides appropriate details on emergency care procedures, skill steps and application methods.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

PREFACE THE FIRST RESPONDER PROGRAM

The July/August 1994 issue of RESCUE-EMS Magazine described the plans of the National EMS Education and Practice Blueprint Project Task Force. This Blueprint provided outlines of the EMS system programs, including one for First Responder. The National Association of EMS Educators (NAEMSE) has studied the strengths and weaknesses in the National Standard Curriculum since EMS systems have initiated the Blueprint programs. The winter 1999 newsletter Domain explains the latest projections for EMS programs. These projections have been incorporated into this First Responder text and the supplemental instructor and student materials. The text also follows the guidelines set by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) National Standard Curriculum.

Using these projections and guidelines, physicians, curriculum designers, instructors, and emergency care providers have designed First Responder courses to meet training needs in their communities. While all First Responder courses meet the same National Standard Curriculum objectives, jurisdictions may present additional prerequisites or require that some prerequisites be met before enrolling in the course. Emergency care procedures, for the most part, remain the same from EMS system to EMS system. However, many EMS programs may require completion of American Heart Association (AHA) CPR, or basic life support, before entering a First Responder program. While CPR guidelines are undergoing changes for the layperson, this textbook includes the most recent AHA guidelines for the emergency care provider at the time of printing. This new edition has removed the AED procedures from the appendix and has included them in the CPR chapters. AED has become an important part of basic life support, and many public facilities are beginning to place them on the premises and train their personnel in their use.

The other appendices, including Determining Blood Pressure, Breathing Aids and Oxygen Therapy, Pharmacology, Swimming and Diving Accidents, and Stress Management are there to meet the varying needs of jurisdictions throughout the country. A new appendix, First Responder Roles and Responsibilities, defines the roles and responsibilities of each level of emergency care: First Responder, EMT Basic, and EMT Paramedic. The chart shows the overlapping roles of the care providers as they respond with actions and interact with each other through the phases of an emergency and carry out their roles in the EMS system.

One of the most critical advances in emergency care is the use of personal protection, or barrier devices, against infectious diseases. More effective barrier devices have been designed, and it is important that First Responders understand their protective abilities and use them appropriately. The incidence of infection from infectious diseases, such as hepatitis, tuberculosis, and the HIV virus, remains low in emergency care providers, but it can only continue to be minimal if emergency care providers continue to use barrier devices consistently and correctly. THE LEARNING PACKAGE

Instructors will want to use instructional methods and students will want to be aware of learning techniques that enable learning. The First Responder textbook, the CD-ROM, the Workbook, and the Instructor's Resource Manual provide ideas for instruction and information and activities for learning. These ideas and activities are based on the experiences and suggestions of emergency care instructors and providers, EMS system committees, curriculum designers with backgrounds in emergency care, physicians and other medical personnel, and industry and the military involved in safety training. The Instructor's Resource Manual includes the DOT objectives and unit outlines that correlate with the textbook; the Student Workbook includes thought-provoking questions and activities that relate to real-life field experiences.

Additional features in this edition are the database flow diagrams and the injury or medical mini-flow assessment and care charts. These diagrams condense printed information into easy-to-follow visual diagrams that provide an instant review of material. The flow charts guide the First Responder student through the steps of assessment, care, and decision making. While many flow diagrams are provided, not all emergency scenarios are represented by them. Students will find that by using the basic design of the mini-flow assessment and care charts, they can design their own flow diagrams for other emergencies, use them for review, and apply the steps quickly as they practice skills procedures during training and use them on actual emergency care situations. The database flow diagrams are an excellent review resource.

Though many First Responder classes are taught in the traditional classroom by one instructor, many training programs are implementing major changes in teaching and learning, such as:

Using telecommunications and technology Using multiple instructors and team-teaching techniques Moving training from "seat-time" to competency, or outcomes Making traditional academic calendars (semesters) or forms of synchronous delivery obsolete Implementing instructional roles that reflect new modes of course development and delivery

Regardless of the mode of delivery, First Responder instructors and students can anticipate an exciting and interesting training course that provides all the necessary preparation for caring and care-giving field providers. Take full advantage of all the materials provided, try different teaching and learning methods, and participate in the suggested activities for a new adventure in learning.

J. David Bergeron and Gloria Bizjak

From the Back Cover

This easy-to-understand text provides clear First Responder-level training for fire service, emergency, law enforcement, military, civil, and industrial personnel. The Sixth Edition of First Responder retains the hallmark that has made it the best-selling First Responder book on the market — solid, thorough coverage of the U.S. DOT First Responder National Standard Curriculum. New gfeatures include Flow-of-Care Diagrams and an appendix on roles and responsibilities of First Responders. Additionally, a state-of-the-art multimedia support package further clarifies and illustrates important points, allowing students to better understand, practice and master the skills and concepts they need to know to become effective First Responders.

• New Flow-of-Care Diagrams provide studnets with visual schematics to help them learn and apply patient assessment and other skills critical to First Responder training.
• New Appendix on Roles and Responsibilities helps First Responder students understand ther role within the overall EMS team.
• Comapnion Website (www.prenhall.com/bergeron): Tied chapter-by-chapter to the text, this free site includes an online study guide that offers studnets immediate feedback as well as links to other EMS-related sites. A Syllabus Manager lets instructors create an online syllabus.
• Student CD-Rom: This CD-Rom, packaged free with each text contains vocabulary-building puzzles and review questions, an audio-glossary, lecture notes, and links to resources on the web.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 614 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 6 edition (December 14, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0130307262
• ISBN-13: 978-0130307262
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,492,440 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous book for the beginner, November 13, 2006

By 

robswife "robswife" (Sac, CA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: First Responder (7th Edition with CD-ROM) (First Responder (Bergeron)) (Paperback)

As a 30 year old that has absolutely no First Aid knowledge other than dealing with my own children and common sense, this book was really great. I've been using it for the First Responder class I've been enrolled in. Of course, it covers a lot of information and here in CA it does not cover everything that will be on the final exam, but it does come pretty darn close. The book has glossy colored pages all the way through. The CD is mildly helpful. It poses scenarios at you and then a series of questions in which you type up paragraph style answers. Then, it gives a paragraph form answer back at you. Reading their answer helps understand the correct response and the "why" that goes with it. It's not a true/false or mulitple choice style, which I feel is more helpful.


I found a book for assisting in testing out as a First Responder extremely helpful. It was white with a blue border on the cover.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic book, April 26, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: First Responder (6th Edition) (Paperback)

This is a terrific book. It's written at a very basic, reader-friendly level. Likewise, the information is presented in a logical, organized manner. Also, the Student CD-Rom contains tons of extra resources, that really helped me master the material.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A good book for all "emergency heros", September 29, 1996

By A Customer

This review is from: First Responder (Paperback)

This book is very useful because of its very good pictures and photographs. You can see all important facts at first sight. That is very good for people who want to review things they have learned some time ago. So that's why I think this is a very good book, not only for all "real" first responders.