Emergency War Surgery: The Survivalist's Medical Desk Reference Paperback – Illustrated, February 1, 2012

This "Emergency War Surgery" manual sounds less like casual reading and more like a critical piece of field knowledge condensed into book form. The fact that it's the illustrated, official guide used by US Army doctors and soldiers in active duty speaks volumes about its authority and practicality. Forget your run-of-the-mill first-aid pamphlet; this delves into the serious stuff: infections, head trauma, fractures, burns – the realities of austere environments. It's positioned not just for medics but for anyone who might face extreme survival scenarios, which is a compelling thought. The glimpse into the contents – hemorrhage control, anesthesia in less-than-ideal circumstances, injuries from biological and chemical agents – paints a picture of a resource that doesn't shy away from the harsh realities of emergency medicine in the field. With nearly 200 illustrations promising to clarify complex procedures, this isn't just theory; it's a visual guide to potentially life-saving interventions. My initial impression is that this book isn't just interesting; it's a deep dive into a world of high-stakes medical decisions, and I anticipate dedicating a significant amount of time to absorbing its knowledge. It feels less like a book and more like a vital toolkit for the unthinkable.This review represents my personal opinion and experience with this product. I am not affiliated with the manufacturer or seller, and this review should not be interpreted as an endorsement or professional advice. Any reliance on the information provided is at your own risk.

A lot of the negative reviews seem to be along the lines of "not what I expected...". I'd like to know what exactly these people expected from a book titled EMERGENCY WAR SURGERY. This is a book written by army doctors for army doctors to help treat people in war zones. I'm really loathe to say a book covers everything...but this really does seem to cover everything you could possibly run into - here's hoping I never need to refer to the chapters on cesarean sections and neonatal resuscitation. If this book were a house, it'd come with the kitchen sink (never mind that houses usually come with kitchen sinks as a standard option; it's an idiom, it doesn't have to make sense).Again, this book is a REFERENCE MANUAL FOR PROFESSIONALS, NOT A FIRST-AID GUIDE FOR CAMPERS. If you are a "true" survivalist who wants to be able to create a fully self-sufficient community in the event of a total system failure then yes, you should absolutely have this book...to give to your community doctor, not to reference yourself. As it says right in the subtitle: it's a desk reference, not a "for dummies" guide. It assumes you know your anterior from your posterior, your superior from your inferior, your duodenum from your jejunum. It assumes you have access to the proper tools required to perform the tasks described. If you understood all those terms (or at least took the time to look them up and say "hmm, I should definitely take a class on this") then this book might just help you save someone's life one day. For everyone else, it's something you can read before bed to help put you to sleep if you don't have a doctor to give it to.

To begin with, I was made aware of this book from the bibliography of another essential book for PHCP professionals titled "Ditch Medicine" which I believe is now out of print. That book, which is not up for review here today, is an excellent reference for providers who, out of necessity, must turn their tent, truck, or whatever they have, into a temporary ICU for more "long-term" care then they want. "Emergency War Surgery" is the same kind of reference. If you purchased it and do not understand it, seek training. It is not a classroom textbook as much as an "Oh, yeah, that's how I need to do that."I am a PHCP in Alaska that is already "remote" by definition of most, given that the closest hospital facility is 2 hours away with good weather. I have found that books like this one, the previous one mentioned, "Where there are no Doctors", and others available from Amazon, need to be in your library if you are, or expect to need to provide diagnosis and treatment of injury to loved ones and others in a remote, wilderness, or off-grid setting. Books do not replace training. They are there for reminder and reference.There is alot more to say on this topic, but I shall keep this "breif", so as to not offend any Bards out there.

Knowledge packed is an understatement. I have some emergency medical training. And I have one brother who is an EMT another is a paramedic. This book has information over all of our heads, thank God there are illustrations to help guide you. I would advise you study this book before you need it. Otherwise someone may die while you're learning how to do a procedure. Definitely study it and then if you need it reference it, quickly. Excellent source of knowledge though excellent purchase for the money I spent.