Advanced First Aid Afloat

By Peter F. Eastman

Book Overview

Since its first publication in 1972, more than 30,000 blue-water sailors have looked to this book when injury or illness struck at sea. Virtually every accident or ailment that might occur when professional medical care is unavailable is squarely faced and dealt with, using layman's language and step-by-step instructions that calmly take the reader from diagnosis through treatment to follow-up care. The fifth edition brings this standard work up-to-date with current medical practice. While maintaining its ease of use for quick, easy reference in case of a medical emergency at sea, diagrams inside the front and back covers point the reader to the appropriate section of the book. Each section starts with a short account of a possible accident or sickness that might occur on a voyage, and then lists the steps to be taken by the caregiver. Photographs and diagrams accompany many of the procedures. Separate chapters are devoted to preparing a crew and the boat's medical chest for long cruises, including lists of drugs for which prescriptions are needed. A number of chapters deal with the unique needs of children.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0870335243
• ISBN13: 9780870335242
• Release Date: August 2009
• Publisher: Cornell Maritime Press
• Length: 234 Pages
• Weight: 0.98 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Serious First Aid for Far Offshore

Good hands on emergency medical text which could save a life. Details handling much more serious crises than typical first aid books. Have your physician check it out, however, and recommend appropriate updated meds. The author's list is out of date and in some cases is no longer appropriate.

Excellent book that can easily save your life

I'm very happy to be the first reviewer of this, but a little suprised since it means there are a lot of sailors who don't know what's in this great book. Levinson and Eastman (both physicians and active sailors) did a great job laying out serious medical problems in a way that even I can understand them. Also, they give readable scenarios that help put these accidents in context. A good example is the opening chapter, which goes into a story of a helmsman who wasn't paying close enough attention, and from an accidental jibe, suffered a head impact from the boom, leaving him out cold on the side deck. Situations like that are real, and the authors have certainly laid out sound and solid advice for keeping your crew (and yourself) safe. The only reason I'm dinging a star from them is because I wish it could have been a bit bigger to cover even more.