Recommendations for Medical Books to keep on board?

[challis0124]

Lots of good info; thanks for the advice and recommendations. Definitely going to be some MORE formal training in my future (and wifes) (I do have my 1st responders cert, which is about 40 hours of class/hands on training) but still I've never done something like stitches haha; thx again.

[Rumplestiltskin]

A bit late, but never mind.

Two good ones (but not nautical).

The Merck Manual. A standard GP's resource that can be read and understood by anyone. It's printed on incredibly thin, resilient paper like the bible, has about 2000 pages of information broken up into systems and mechanisms of trauma, and it's compact.

Another good one is the Australian CARPA Standard Treatment Manual. This is the key resource for nurses working in single staff clinics in remote central Australia. It takes the place of a doctor in terms of guiding diagnosis and deciding treatment. It's very visual and no-nonsense, and easily understood. I once used it to diagnose a case of Pyelonephritis in the middle of the Gibson Desert (not quite the open ocean, but equally remote, if you get my drift).

There's also a fantastic book written by doctors for mountaineers who go to remote areas such as the Himalayas and Karakorums etc that covers virtually every emergency conceivable and describes (with heaps of diagrams) in layman's terms how to go about treatment. It includes things like rupture bladders, head trauma, broken ribs, but also the whole swathe of diseases associated with these regions. Regrettably, I can't remember the title.

I think that although these books don't cover the specific issues associated with large bodies of water, they approach the issue from the same perspective: how would a layperson go about diagnosing and treating an injury or illness in a remote location.

The CARPA manual also has a small useful section on treating lacerations sustained in open salt water, mangroves and estuaries, all of which have their own unique set of nasty microorganisms (contrary to popular belief, saltwater harbours far more infectious organisms than freshwater).

I'm not a doctor, but I do sail, travel across deserts and I did mountaineer, and I certainly have treated dozens of major injuries and illnesses in remote locations (I'm unlucky to travel with in that respect). These books were all useful.

Like I said, I'm an amateur and this is based only on my experience. There are also medical companies out there (especially in the UK) who specialise in preparing medical kits and training for laypersons going to remote locations (they will also provide you with covering letters and scripts so you can carry powerful painkillers like morphine in your kit). They are free and generous with their information, such as providing lists of what you should pack and what good guidebooks are available. Just do a google search.

Cheers

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by cwyckham

"Where there is no doctor" is for remote locations where first aid isn't enough...

Hesperian Health Guides publishes 20 titles (online), including:
“Where There Is No Doctor”
“Where There Is No Dentist”
“Where Women Have No Doctor”

Downloadable here ➥ Books and Resources | Hesperian Health Guides

[d0ug]

There is three book that are a good reference guide even tells you how to do urine test and understand them also understand medical terminologies.
Let play doctor, Let play herbal doctor, passport to aromatherapy.

[challis0124]

Does anyone have ideas about natural / herbal - remedy type books that they would recommend?

[Dhillen]

I would second what someone else already mentioned: unless you take a wilderness survival first aid course all of what you learn in "first aid" class is how to keep the patient alive until the ambulance arrives 3 minutes later. This is totally useless for offshore cruisers who - even more than mountaineers - may need to "keep the patient alive" a couple of weeks until help can be reached.

I took a three-day wilderness medicine course offered by Wilderness Medical Associates International and it was great (I have no affiliation with them). I compiled all my notes into a pdf e-book format for my own use to print out and keep on the boat. Then I decided to put it up on our website (free) for whomever else may be interested. I called it, "Offshore Medicine: What you Need to Know (and Nothing More)." It fulfills your requirements: useful and easy to read.

I still recommend taking a course yourself. Many cruisers want to buy "the manual" or whatever just to have on the boat for peace of mind. None of them even crack it open, let alone read it. This is, in my view, a mind game and a total waste of time.

Cheers.

Dhillen

[FamilyVan]

I keep "Pre Hospital Emergency Care" by Robert J Brady.
It's good. It has great illustrations and was the textbook for my Marine Advanced First Aid course.

Sent from my SGH-I547C using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[challis0124]

Thank you so much for these insights!