Medicine for the Outdoors: The Essential Guide to First Aid and Medical Emergency, 5th Edition [Paperback]

Paul S. Auerbach (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 3, 2009 | ISBN-10: 0323068138 | ISBN-13: 978-0323068130 | Edition: 5

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.

Editorial Reviews

Review

 "In summary, Paul Auerbach's name will be forever associated with wilderness medicine, and his textbooks, including this one, will always be the premier works in this field. The latest edition of these books has surpassed "wilderness medicine," and this book is the best "first aid" text that I have seen. It should become the standard text not just for wilderness travelers but for everyone who wants to know how to do first aid and do it right. At a cost of $24.95, this is the best bargain in town, even if it only saves your life once." - The Journal of Emergency Medicine, Vol. 39, No. 3, p. 391, 2010

"The new edition is the ultimate handbook for anyone participating in outdoor activities or eco-tourism far from medical care, and it was written by an ...authority in wilderness medicine." Best Health Books of 2009 - Wall Street Journal 2009

"By far the best book on the subject." - Field & Stream "If a doctor isn't with you on your wilderness wanderings, this splendid book should be in your pack." - New York Times "Anyone who travels to out-of-the-way places will take comfort in this handy, updated guide." - Publishers Weekly "If you can't have an experienced emergency physician with you when you're traveling off the beaten path, take this book. And read it first!" - Whole Earth

"This reference work contains critical information for lay people who encounter unexpected hazards ranging from bad weather and snake bites to sprained ankles and heat stroke. Of course, the book doesn't guarantee that lay people will become certified paramedics; however, armed with 535 pages of detailed information, most readers will feel more confident making decisions that could mean the difference between life and death. Dr. Auerbach's advice, captured in this reference book, teaches us how to safely enjoy "green" exercise." -  Carole Carson author of  From Fat to Fit: Turn Yourself into a Weapon of Mass Reduction and serves as the national coach for the AARP Fat to Fit Community Challenge, a free weight-loss program welcoming all ages.

 "Auerbach delivers a substantial amount of material in a well-written and concise paperback that can serve as a medical manual emphasizing outdoor hazards, with therapeutic recommendations extended to a clinic setting. The book is divided into major medical problems, minor medical problems, disorders related to specific environments, miscellaneous information, and appendices. Medicine for the Outdoors will prove useful for a broad spectrum of readers needing a credible reference on medical care in remote environments or even in urban environments in the aftermath of a disaster. " - JAMA October 2009

About the Author

Dr. Paul S. Auerbach, FACEP, FAWM, is the Redlich Family Professor of Surgery in the Division of Emergency Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine. He is the world's leading expert on wilderness medicine and a prolific author. He is the Editor of Wilderness Medicine, and author of Medicine for the Outdoors and Field Guide to Wilderness Medicine.

Dr. Auerbach holds his MD from Duke and completed his internship at Dartmouth and residency at UCLA. He is certified by the American Board of Emergency Medicine. He has been recognized as a Hero of Emergency Medicine by the American College of Emergency Physicians and received the New Orleans Grand Isle Award for Science from the Academy of Underwater Arts and Sciences, the Founders Award from the Wilderness Medical Society, and the Outstanding Contribution in Education Award from the American College of Emergency Physicians, among others. Dr. Auerbach has served as a volunteer physician in Haiti, Nepal, and Guatemala.

Product Details

• Paperback: 535 pages
• Publisher: Mosby; 5 edition (July 3, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0323068138
• ISBN-13: 978-0323068130
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.9 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #22,450 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #24 in Books > Medical Books > Allied Health Professions > Emergency Medical Services
  • #24 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Safety & First Aid
  • #24 in Books > Medical Books > Medicine > Internal Medicine > Emergency

More About the Author

Dr. Paul S. Auerbach, an Elsevier Author, is the Redlich Family Professor of Surgery in the Division of Emergency Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine. He is the world's leading medical expert on wilderness medicine and a prolific author. He is the Editor of Wilderness Medicine, and author of Medicine for the Outdoors and Field Guide to Wilderness Medicine.

For more information, visit elsevierauthors.com.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

73 of 74 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Detailed, Advanced First Aid June 27, 2010

By Cal Zant

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I have recently read a few books on first responder type medical aid for wilderness scenarios ... and this is BY FAR the best. If you are looking for a book that goes well beyond even advanced first aid, and presents the material in a pratical way using common languge ... this book is it. There is a balance with books like this on either being too elementary (i.e. "dumbed-down") or being too academic (i.e. filled with technical jargon that goes over the head of most people), but this book is a great balance between the two. The author has a gift of explaining things in a very straight-forward fashion.

46 of 46 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Astounding Depth and Breadth of Information November 3, 2010

By SteveG

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book covers almost every conceivable medical situation you will likely encounter in the field. The only downside is that the book is too big and heavy to carry with you during many of the outdoor activities where you might need it. It is ideal for a survivalist homesteader or other remote but relatively stationary situation, or even as part of a vehicle kit. It includes medications and dosages used to treat various maladies, and would prove an invaluable reference for anyone in an emergency situation away from traditional medical services. It is also a useful tool in creating an emergency medical kit targetted at specific activitied and situations, giving detailed information on the items needed for each type of emergency. Training is key, and no book will ever replace professional emergency medical personnel, but this book uses layman's language to describe medical emergencies and their treatments and can assist you when the professionals are not available.

48 of 52 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The best guideout there. Period. February 14, 2010

By Clifton C. Castleman

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

As a Wilderness EMT and wilderness medicine instructor, I often find myself asking myself questions or being asked questions that I wouldhave otherwise never conjured up. Needless to say, I wouldn't carry this "bible of the backcountry" with me everywhere I go while out enjoying mother nature's splendor, but it certainly has its own spot in my emergency medicine library collection! Well written, easy to follow and understand, and the graphics are clear and concise. A great resource for any Wilderness First Aider, WFR or even WEMT!

Clif Castleman
Center for Wilderness Safety