When Every Moment Counts: What You Need to Know About Bioterrorism from the Senate's Only Doctor (Paperback)

~ Bill Frist (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Frist, a Republican senator from Tennessee, brings his experiences as a heart and lung surgeon and a ranking member of the Senate Subcommittee on Public Health to this extremely informative, very approachable guide to coping with the bioterrorism threat, the only such guide available today. The book's linchpin is a chapter called "Safe at Home: A Family Survival Guide," a straightforward, q&a-style set of guidelines for everything from choosing a filtration mask and putting together a disaster supply kit to preparing children for emergencies without giving them nightmares. The rest of the book, also in q&a format, provides basic information on the most likely bioterrorism agents, such as anthrax, smallpox, plague and botulism. Frist clearly and knowledgeably explains the symptoms, incubation period and available treatments for each agent, providing specific details, like the definition of "weaponized" anthrax and the government plan for containing a smallpox outbreak. Sidebars describe how the organisms have been used as weapons in the past. The book also includes a chapter on chemical weapons and one on the food and water supply. Though his tone is generally optimistic, Frist is candid about weaknesses in the public health system, such as the dearth of vaccine research on children or the FDA's inability to meet its food inspection goals. He's concerned, above all, about the lack of rapid communication among doctors and health agencies (citing that "one in five public health offices does not have email"), and concludes with his proposals to increase funding for state and local public health organizations and other suggestions for government action. This reassuring, thorough resource undoubtedly will prove a comfort to many readers and, in the case of a bioterrorist attack, has the potential to save countless lives. Color photo insert of organisms and, to aid in diagnosis, of skin rashes (comparing, for instance, smallpox to chickenpox).

From Library Journal

When anthrax began showing up in the mail in fall 2001, one of the most sought-after and frequently seen guests on news shows was Senator Frist (R-TN), a practicing physician. His calm and levelheaded replies to a flurry of questions about anthrax and other potential biohazards reassured a jittery nation. In this book, Frist provides the same quality information in a question-and-answer format that addresses major biological and (to a lesser extent) chemical threats, their signs and symptoms, their transmission, vaccines, and effective treatments. Practical suggestions on preparing a disaster kit, easing children's anxieties, and handling suspicious mail, among other issues, are numerous and well conceived. A list of reliable web sites gives readers access to current information, and color illustrations help with the identification of anthrax and smallpox. The book concludes with an excellent index. While the occasional political point slips in (e.g., Frist advocates antitrust relief to drug companies), this book remains a solid lay reader's guide. A similar title, Dr. Philip Tierno's Protect Yourself Against Bioterrorism (Pocket, 2002), covers much the same ground. Given the high interest, both could be added at a small cost to the library. Anne C. Tomlin, Auburn Memorial Hosp. Lib., New York
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.; 1 edition (March 25, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0742522458
• ISBN-13: 978-0742522459
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #901,320 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

158 of 197 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Frist is no expert on bioterrorism., May 19, 2002

By A Customer

Bill Frist may be the Senate's only doctor, but he's no expert on bioterrorism. His opportunism in the wake of a serious tragedy is appalling. I know some of the Senate staffers who were exposed to anthrax, and many of the things he wrote in the book - and said at the time - simply aren't true. For example, Frist claims that Daschle staffers called his office for advice the day their letter was opened. Untrue. Frist was also known to have said after the death of Robert Stevens in Florida that there would never be another death from inhalation anthrax in America. Wrong - there were four more within a few weeks, and there might have been even more if some had not taken additional antibiotics and/or the anthrax vaccine (something Frist irresponsibly advised against). Frist loves to portray himself as the expert on all things medical, but he lacks the expertise to write this shallow, self-serving book, and he lacks the integrity to tell the truth.

72 of 90 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars false security, December 21, 2002

By	"gwenbeach" (Oxnard, CA United States) - See all my reviews

I have worked in the field of Bioterrorism for 2 years now. I personally feel that books like this pose a certain danger. There is no quick fix for most types of bioterror, in the same way that duck and cover is no kind of real response to a nuclear blast. There is no real "family guide". The best protection is: 1. Establishing a good relationship with your family physician and 2. Preparing the standard disaster kit your family should own for the much more likely disasters- earthquakes, fires, floods, hurricanes, etc.
In a bioterror incident, it is your public health and medical systems that will protect you. Period. Make sure they are funded properly in your region.

31 of 83 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is serious stuff., March 28, 2002

By A Customer

Watching the news doesn't give you the whole the whole story on bioterror, but this book certainly does. It covers all the major threats you hear about (just the section on smallpox should be enough wake you up!), and includes some serious pictures of the effects of the the different agents. Don't miss chapter 2, "A Family Survival Guide". It is remarkably easy to read, and would also make an excellent reference book for a school library. The point of the book is that even though bioterror is a serious threat, with the right information we dont' have to live in fear. This book gives you that information.