Written by renowned experts Jim Duff and Peter Gormly, this guidebook describes basic first aid techniques for those travelling in wilderness areas. Deals with fundamentals such as preparation, prevention, first aid kits and the use of medications and painkillers; and provides details on how to deal with a variety of accidents and illnesses. Venturing into remote areas involves a degree of risk. Minimizing these risks, while feeling confident in your ability to deal with any potential injury or illness, is part of the challenge and satisfaction of wilderness travel. This book is divided into 3 parts: Part 1. THE FUNDAMENTALS - preparation, prevention, first aid kits and the use of medications and painkillers; Part 2. ACCIDENT AND ILLNESS PROCEDURE - how to deal with any accident and illness, including emergency treatment for life-threatening situations; Part 3. PROBLEMS AND THEIR TREATMENT - specific accidents and illnesses. The authors' wilderness experience was gained as mountaineers in Scotland, Norway, the European Alps, New Zealand, the Himalayas and Antarctica. Dr Jim Duff was a member of a mountain rescue team and has more than 30 years' experience of climbing, trekking and teaching wilderness medicine, first aid and leadership in the Himalayas, Australia and East Africa. Dr Peter Gormly has been involved in safety, first aid and health issues in Antarctica for many years.

About the Author

Dr Jim Duff grew up in the UK and started climbing at 14. Jim has more than 30 years' experience of climbing, trekking and teaching wilderness medicine, first aid and leadership in the Himalayas. He was doctor on Chris Bonington's 1975 Expedition, which made the first ascent of Everest's Southwest face, and on the Australian first ascent of the North face of Everest in 1984. As well as expeditions to K2 and Changabang, Jim has climbed in the UK, Alps, Norway, New Zealand and North America. Dr Peter Gormly has been involved in safety, first aid and health issues in Antarctica for many years.

Table of Contents

Diagram: the skeleton; Diagram: the internal organs; Abbreviations and conversion tables; Preface; read this! PART 1: THE FUNDAMENTALS; 1. Prevention; Preparation; Keeping healthy; Safety in extreme climates; Particular situations; Care of local people; 2. Positioning and moving a victim; Positioning a victim; Immobilization techniques; Ways to move a victim; 3. Medications what you need to know; The basics; Special considerations; At altitude; 4. Pain management; Painkillers (analgesics); Other medications and techniques for pain relief; PART 2: ACCIDENT AND ILLNESS PROCEDURE; 5. Accident and illness procedure summary; 6. Primary survey dealing with life-threatening emergencies; Response; Airway; Breathing; CPR or chest compressions; 7. Primary survey for specific life-threatening situations; Suspected spinal injuries; Life-threatening bleeding; Choking (blocked airway); Drowning; Hypothermic victim; Primary survey for children; Fainting; Triage; 8. Shock management; Common causes of shock; Symptoms and signs of shock; Shock prevention and management; 9. Secondary survey working out what the problem is; Taking a medical history; Carrying out a physical examination; Checking the vital signs; 10. Evacuation; Sending for help; Evacuating the victim; Helicopter evacuation; PART 3: PROBLEMS AND THEIR TREATMENT; 11. Spinal and head (skull and brain) injuries; General management that applies to all spinal and head injuries; Spinal (neck and backbone) injuries; Head (skull and brain) injuries; 12. Burns; Burn management; Specific burns; 13. Broken bones (fractures) and dislocations; Broken bones (fractures); Specific broken bones; Dislocations; Specific dislocations; 14. Sprains and strains; General treatment of sprains and strains; Specific sprains and strains; 15. Wounds; Wound management; Complications; Specific wounds; 16. Bites and stings; Animals and snakes; Spiders; Other insects; Sea creatures; 17. Altitude illness AMS, HACE and HAPE; AMS, HACE and HAPE; Treatment of altitude illness; Going back up again? 18. Cold weather problems; Hypothermia; Frostnip and frostbite; 19. Hot weather problems; Heat exhaustion and heat stroke; Other hot weather problems; 20. Dehydration; 21. Diarrhoea and food poisoning; Mild diarrhoea; Severe diarrhoea; Food poisoning; 22. Abdominal (belly) problems; Common abdominal problems; Serious abdominal problems; Specific serious abdominal problems; 23. Respiratory problems; Respiratory tract infections; Non-infective respiratory problems; 24. Infectious diseases; 25. Eyes, ears and mouth; Eyes; Ears; Mouth and teeth; 26. Skin problems; Rashes; Other skin problems; 27. Problems specific to women and men, and STDs; Women; Men; Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs); 28. Other problems; Allergy; Diabetes; Epilepsy (Grand Mal); Fever (cause unknown); Headache and migraine; Blood circulation (vascular) problems; Mental problems; Insomnia (cannot sleep, poor sleep); Appendix 1: Chart of medications; Appendix 2: First aid kits; Appendix 3: Lake Louise score (LLS); Appendix 4: Altitude illness flowchart; Appendix 5: Rescue request forms; Appendix 6: Useful contacts; Appendix 7: Index of diagrams; Index; Front cover (inside): Accident and illness procedure; Back cover (inside): Basic life support (BLS) in the wilderness

Reviews

'My old editions of this established book look very worn, as they have travelled far and wide. Two reasons for this are the content and the fact it is pocket size. This edition is slightly bigger, thicker and has a PVC cover. However, the expansion allows for a clearer layout, more durable paper and additional information, and it is still pocket size, an important factor.This book I feel would be an asset to any member both whilst working and playing. It will also be a good complement to many first aid courses we may attend and, for once, it is something which is inexpensive.'(AMI news / June 2007)'The small size of this attractive new series launched by Cicerone will make them very suitable for carrying on the hill. All are well illustrated with colour photos, sketches and map, and have solid plastic covers.First Aid and Wilderness Medicine packs an enormous amount of information into 240 well-laid-out pages covering prevention, dealing with an accident and illnesses.The authors have plenty of practical experience from many wild places, including the Himalaya and Antarctica. I can't offer a medical opinion, but this strikes me as a book I would like to have had with me on my trips into the wild.'(Irish Mountain Log / Summer 2007)