Wilderness Medicine: From Poison Ivy and First Aid to CPR and Medical Emergencies

Learn basic first aid, as well as how to prevent and treat outdoor medical emergencies, from common illness and injury to catastrophe.

A worst-case scenario can happen anytime, anywhere--but you don’t want to fret about safety. Put your mind at ease with expert guidance from Patrick Brighton, MD, FACS. Dr. Brighton has served as an emergency room surgeon, has managed mass-casualty situations, and has participated in several mountain rescues. Now, he’s sharing his expertise with you in Staying Safe: Backyard to Backcountry.

Find out what preventative steps you can take to minimize your risk, whether you’re mowing the yard, hiking with friends, or camping with children. Discover the recommended and the essential items to keep on hand--in case the worst should happen--regardless of where you are, what you’re doing, and how far you are from help. Dr. Brighton guides you through recommended first-aid responses and treatments to a variety of wilderness illnesses, injuries, and emergency situations--from sunburn and toothache to appendicitis and heart attack.

Inside you’ll find:

• Basic techniques in first aid, as well as potentially life-saving treatments


• Information organized by type of injury, so you can quickly find what you need


• Easy-to-understand instructions that help you assess each situation and decide how to proceed


• Considerations for nature’s variable challenges, like limited resources, weather, victim/rescuer capabilities, and evacuation options


• Medical techniques based on the latest research from the American College of Surgeons, the American Heart Association, and Dr. Brighton’s decades of experience

You’re getting sound advice from an expert in wilderness medicine. Plus, the book includes field notes--real stories from the field. So whether you encounter mild sickness or life-or-death conditions, use Staying Safe: Backyard to Backcountry to prevent and prepare.

Patrick Brighton is a board-certified general and trauma surgeon. A Fellow in the American College of Surgeons for more than 20 years, he has evaluated and surgically managed thousands of critically injured trauma patients, including those from dozens of mass-casualty situations. An avid alpinist and ice climber, Dr. Brighton currently spends most of his free time as a member of the Ouray Mountain Rescue Team in Ouray, Colorado. Dr. Brighton also teaches wilderness medicine courses in the US and in South America.