The Survival Medicine Handbook: THE essential guide for when medical help is NOT on the way

VERY COMPREHENSIVE AND THOROUGH.I don't have their previous editions, but from what I can gather, the authors have significantly expanded their scope in this 3rd edition. It won't make you a doctor, but it will equip you with the vital medical skills needed when there is little or no chance of finding a doctor. The book is written by a medical doctor and an advanced nurse practitioner. It is in layman's terms; all skills and procedures are explained in a simple, straightforward way. Topics include Preparedness; Cleanliness; Triage; Assessment; all manner of Infections; Natural Disasters; Maritime Survival; Biological Warfare & Radiation Sickness; Injuries; Bites; Chronic Medical Conditions such as management of Diabetes, Epilepsy, Heart Disease; CPR; Pregnancy; Anxiety & Depression; Dental Issues; Medication.The only downside I can find is the size and weight of the book (H229mm × W153mm × 39mm spine, mass = 1040g). (Approximately H 9" × W 6" × 1.5" spine, mass = 2.29lb). It's not the kind of weight you would like in your bug-out-bag, but all things considered, I would be comforted to know I had this resource close at hand. Maybe the publishers can use finer paper next time? At 671 pages (including photos and diagrams), this is a valuable, yet weighty reference book. Keep one on your bookshelf!!

This book is a good addition to a family medical library. It's based upon the assumption that certain catastrophes (e.g. natural disasters, nuclear war) may leave you and your family isolated from the medical community for a long time. Hence, the book is packed with medical information needed to treat others in an environment where pharmacies are unavailable and trained medical personnel are otherwise occupied or dead. One thing this book isn't: a guide to amateur surgery. There are some things that cannot be done without years of specialized medical training, no matter how desperate the circumstances. Another thing this book isn't: A stand alone compendium of medical knowledge. If your intent is to build a good prepper's medical library, you'll want to supplement it with a Merck Manual (there's one written in plain English), as well as texts dealing specifically with anatomy, drugs (prescription and OTC), and a text geared to symptom identification. Please be advised this book will be of comparatively little value if you don't read it and follow its stockpiling recommendations for supplies, equipment, and medications.

Being a Nurse of 30 years and someone who lives in a Hurricane prone area, I fully believe in being prepared for the worst of the worst. This book is my “Goto Bible. I have used this book while camping, while at home, and even while on the road. Dr. Alton also has a book on antibiotics that I totally recommend!!! You will not be sorry. These are well worth the investment to have.

Disclaimer: I have a medical professional background so I may understand the info in this book differently than non medical folks. That said, I like the layout/organization of the book. There is good detail and simple explanations for treating about a million things (lol). This book is geared toward situations where modern medical services and pharmaceuticals are not easily available.

I've been reading survival preparedness books for a long time and I have to say I've run into all kinds of malarkey. This is not that. Now for those of you knew to the survival, preparedness/ prepper community you may not be fully aware of the pitfalls that often occur when you're looking for reliable information based in reality on preparing for a disaster and being relatively self sufficient. There are MANY of them and it's exceptionally rare to find a book of the quality,such as this one, that I want that doesn't fall into one of the big four categories that are a plague amongst the community(Whether we admit it jokingly or not).Those 4 categories being:Hollywood Woo: These aren't technically survival manuals, these are quasi-fiction works that center around building upon the mental image that you will be the lone survivor of a catastrophe and live life similar to a dystopian world like mad max, I am legend, or the walking dead. No real plan aside from stockpiling everything you while you canConspiri-crack: These often start off as "For the survival savy individual" but within several pages devolve into " In order to fight the globalist lizard men from (insert insane trash here". And again pose no tangible value outside of humor or TP when you inevitably run out.Bush whacking: Focused primarily on a skill set designed for when you get lost in the woods or took the advice of some bug-out-aholic and are now living meagerly in the woods despite real shelter and comfort being safe and available.Did you see these people during covid, the riots, or anything else? Yeah, me neither.Citizen Z's: The books written as how to survive some form of zombie apocalypse. While occasionally possessing material relevant on survivalism it mainly falls into Hollywood woo since...well ... Zombies don't actually exist.All that being said, this information is presented in a form that most people can easily grasp and apply within the principles of logical needs for a major disaster. They give lists and notes on what constitutes a well put together survival kit and what doesnt. Mind you, I tend to develop a bit of an eye twitch when so called "holistic" remedies are brought into the mix. However, most of the remedies aren't something goofy like rubbing bentonite clay on your third eye because some infection has calcified your penial gland or whatever. Oh contratre! Most of them deal with herbal remedies and mom cure all's that have withstood the scruples of time and medicine. I can absolutely get behind a book recommending boiled spruce tips to help heal a cold since mixing in some gin, honey, and some cayenne for the sinuses has helped even before I knew of this book. Just like taking some valerian root for sleep or using a certain to relieve constipation.The topics covered in some areas involving pain and discomfort can be lacking but to cover every.last.single.conditione that would arise is beyond the scope and practice of even the most skilled medical author. Be open minded and understand that situations change and that certain care and circumstances facilitate the use of this book simply because help is a long way off or virtually non-existent. It also constantly refers back to this point since its goal is ultimately to help more than hinder.If I had to list books for survival medicine it would definitely be on my shelf. Mind you, you will need others and I can recommend:Where there is no doctor/ dentist (skill and knowledge base none to basic)This book( basic training but not much beyond.)The United states Ranger emergency medical handbook( Advanced and trained)Providing care in austere conditions (Advanced and applied doctorate in some form of medicine or EMT).Emergency war surgery( Written by the Borden institute Walter Reed Medical center EXTREMELY in depth and professional skill set)Definitely worth a spot on your book shelf!