Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge: The Non-Fiction Book Everyone Should Read and Why

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American College of Emergency Physicians First Aid Manual book cover. Image on cover is of four people seeking first aid for fevers, broken limbs, and other ailments.Narrowing down my ideas to only one suggestion was tough. There are many topics I believe all adults should have a good working knowledge of, from history to budgeting, the latest scientific data on what constitutes a healthy diet to how to do basic repairs at home.

But by far the most important book everyone should read is anything that gives scientifically-accurate, up-to-date information on first aid like the American College of Emergency Physicians’ First Aid Manual.

(Ideally, I’d want everyone to take a basic first aid course, too! I took one many years ago and hope to refresh my memory as soon as these sorts of classes are offered again in Toronto).

No matter who you are or where you live, there may come a time when you or someone near you about will unexpectedly need medical care for a physical or mental health condition if it hasn’t happened already.

It’s imperative that all of us know how to:

  • Determine when you should call a medical provider in a day or two, visit a non-urgent medical clinic this afternoon, or call for an ambulance immediately.
  • Immobilize a broken bone
  • React to possible spinal injuries or head trauma after an accident
  • Treat burns, sprains, cuts, fevers, panic attacks, dehydration, blisters, bruises, bites, sunburns, nausea, gastroenteritis, heat exhaustion, hypothermia and other illnesses that may or may not be able to be treated at home depending on the circumstances.
  • Help someone who is choking, seizing, having an asthma attack, or having a mental health crisis
  • Safely address heavy bleeding after, say, a puncture wound
  • Perform CPR
  • Recognize the signs of a heart attack, stroke, severe allergic reaction, or any other life-threatening health problem
  • Behave in an emergency in general.

There are no doubt other many other things to add to this list, too. Some people will naturally freeze up in an emergency, so it’s crucial that all of us study the best ways to react when someone suddenly needs medical care.

The more of us that know how to respond to scenarios like these, the easier it will be for everyone who needs help to receive it whether they’re being treated by a lay person or a professional.

Have you taken a first aid class? Have you read any nonfiction books on this topic recently? I’m curious to hear your thoughts on my pick for this topic and see what everyone chose as their answers, too.

18 Comments

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18 Responses to Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge: The Non-Fiction Book Everyone Should Read and Why

  1. I absolutely LOVE books like this. I’ve been trying to build a small bookshelf of print books that would be helpful in an emergency when we don’t have power or internet. I’m not talking Zombie Apocalypse, but … hey, it could happen, right! 😀

  2. Oh, I like that choice. My knowledge of First Aid probably needs to be updated; I haven’t done any new reading on the topic since my teens.

    My answer is here.

  3. This is a great choice! My daughter is in nursing school right now and has to take a CPR course (which she’s grumbling about), but it’ll be good for her. I should take it with her, honestly.

  4. this is a fabulous recommendation! I’ma nurse and even I think everyone should have this book!

  5. Sounds like a good book to have in a personal reference library. Thanks for coming by.

  6. Excellent choice! Adding it to my library. Thanks for sharing! Here’s mine. Thanks for sharing.

  7. I once upon a time did a first aid course, but it was as an RAF cadet and there was frankly more about treating arrow wounds (??!!) than about the useful stuff. I really should get certified again, someday. It lapsed a long time ago!

    My post.

    • That’s so interesting! What did you learn about treating arrow wounds? I wouldn’t know the first thing about that injury and would probably just call for an ambulance and not touch it. 🙂

  8. I took CPR classes repeatedly when I was a new mom, when I ran a licensed daycare out of my home, and when I was a Girl Scout leader for many years–we had to retake it every year. My daughter took it when she started babysitting when she was 11, and often after that. Now she’s a teacher, and has to keep her skills updated. I like to tease the teens I sub for that they should stop horsing around in class–I tell them, “I know how to do CPR and 1st Aid, but I don’t want to have to. And you’ll hear about it from me, when you get better!”

  9. That’s a good one. We should all read that one regardless. Thanks!

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