American College of Emergency Physicians First Aid Manual

The American College of Emergency Physicians First Aid Manual is a comprehensive first aid text, but it may be too much for the average household. The tips are good, and the images clearly illustrate the steps. Unfortunately, many readers will be scared away by the sheer volume of technical information presented.

The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) is an organization dedicated to emergency medical care. In general, they are a great source of information on the latest techniques for first aid and emergency care.

Because of ACEP's zest for emergency medicine, this First Aid Manual is probably more of a first aid book than most households can handle:

"Once you have finished treatment, dispose of all waste material carefully to prevent the spread of infection. Place soiled items and used gloves in a plastic bag; ideally, use a special red bag called a biohazard bag."

-ACEP First Aid Manual

I doubt many homes have biohazard bags available, and even if they do, biohazard bags cannot be deposited with regular garbage. The manual includes information on ambulance stretchers, stair chairs, carry sheets and other specialized healthcare equipment. Many readers may feel intimidated by this detailed technical information.

However, if readers can get past the professional stuff, there are great tips for the average home first aider -- like making a sling out of the victim's own jacket or the proper way to tie a triangular bandage over a head wound.

The book needs to have a little more organization to make it look less busy. Overall, however, I like it a lot and recommend it as a good guide to have around.