I have been a big fan of the "For Dummies" series and own many copies of their books. However, my most recent purchase, First Aid and Safety for Dummies, has been extremely disappointing. The purpose of reading this book was to find a book that my first aid and CPR students could reference for more details than the standard class covered. However, I found the book to have incorrect information, and information that contradicts the nationally accepted standards. The authors are medical journalist with no documented emergency medical experience. The only section of the book that had reasonable information was the "Special Situations" section. The first aid, and preparation section has recommendations that could be harmfull, even deadly if followed. For example, the book mentions numerous times that first aid and CPR should be performed for 1-2 minutes before EMS(911) is activated, the national standard is; as soon as an adult person is found unresponsive to activate 911. The reason is that most adults go unconscious or into cardiac arrest is due to an irregular heart rhythm, this rhythm can only be reversed with defibrillation by a portable defibrillator (like in the show ER). This is why most communities have police, fire, and ambulances carrying these units, airlines also now carry them. A delay of a "few" minutes can mean the difference between life and death. The book also makes a recommendation for during an asthma attack to use the herbal supplement ephedra (it mixes alternative medicine in with traditional medicine, during the first aid section;versus having a seperate chapter addressing alternative medicine). Ephedra has been known to cause deaths in healthy young people (it is used as an energy boost, simular to caffeine)someone may misinterpret this and use it alongside with a prescibed asthma inhaler, this could be deadly. These are just a sampling of the mistakes (personally, the two most scariest in my opinion). I have written IDG books and hope to get a response. My recommendation is if you want a book on First Aid or CPR stick with a nationally recognized organization (i.e. American Red Cross, American Heart Association, National Safety Council)many of these publications are available online. And most importantly, take a class, the books are invaluable, but so isn't the hands on experience you will recieve. I am writing this as a First Aid and CPR Instructor with 12 years of emergency medicine experience. Once again, other than this particular book, I have enjoyed and found the "For Dummies" series very informative.
