The discipline of disaster medicine is the study and collaborative application of various health sciences towards the prevention of, preparation for, response to and recovery from health problems arising from a disaster.

Because disasters can strike anywhere in the world and can have devastating effects on the community, it is vitally important that the different agencies, government departments and medical disciplines work together to draw up adequate mitigation plans. It is also crucial that each agency is aware of its responsibilities and understands the chain of command in a disaster situation.

In a clear and concise manner Disaster Medicine covers all the critical aspects necessary to deal with any type of man-made or natural disaster.

In this text, the authors attempt to lay a foundation for a scientific approach to wound care that is particularly suited to the South African context.

Drs. John C. Perkins and Michael E. Winters have assembled an expert team of authors on the topic of Sepsis in the Emergency Department. Article topics include: Defining and Diagnosing Sepsis; Appropriate Antibiotic Therapy; Severe Sepsis Resuscitation in Resource Limited Settings; Source Control in Severe Sepsis; Considerations in Special Populations with Severe Sepsis; Pediatric Severe Sepsis Resuscitation; The New Usual Care; Prehospital Sepsis Care; Endpoints of Sepsis Resuscitation; Pitfalls in the Diagnosis, Treatment, and Disposition of Severe Sepsis; Biomarkers in Sepsis; Vasopressors and Inotropes in Sepsis; and Sepsis Quality Measures and Performance Improvement.

This issue of Emergency Medicine Clinics, edited by Drs. Robert Vissers and Michael Gibbs, focuses on Pulmonary Emergencies. Articles include: Approach to the Adult Patient with Acute Dyspnea,Approach to the Pediatric Patient with Acute Dyspnea,Advances in Pulmonary Imaging,Respiratory Monitoring,Management of Acute Asthma and COPD,Diagnosis and Treatment of Acute Pulmonary Embolus,Pulmonary Manifestations Of Systemic Diseases,Pleural Disease,Management of Hemoptysis, and more!

This issue of Emergency Medicine Clinics, edited by Drs. Stephen Borron and Ziad Kazzi focuses on emergencies arising from contact with Hazardous Materials. Article topics include: Selected classes and examples of dangerous industrial chemicals, weapons of mass destruction, and their syndromic identification; Hospital preparedness for chemical and radiological disasters; Personnel protection and decontamination of adults and children; Resources for toxicological information and assistance; Asphyxiants; Corrosives and irritants; Organophosphates and carbamates; Intentional and unintentional food, drug, and water contamination, and more!

Drs. Stephen Bohan and Josh Kosowsky have assembled a panel of expert authors for this edition on Cardivascular Emergencies. Topics include: Ischemia, Heart Failure, Congenital Heart Disease, Supreventricular Dysrhythmias, Atrial Fibrillation, Uncommon Dysrhythmias, Electrophysiology, Pericardial Disease, and Cardiac Arrest.

This brand-new book offers virtual hands-on experience to over 65 emergency procedures, allowing readers to rehearse them over again in their mind-then perform them on demand correctly. Colour drawings of each procedure that illuminate relevant anatomical structures and their relationship to each new step paired with full-colour photographs provide a realistic clinical view of the identical anatomy. Plus, each step is accompanied by concise text, allowing the illustrations and photographs to guide clinicians effortlessly through the procedure. Presents step-by-step, side-by-side full-color illustrated guidance. Uses a standard chapter organization for quick reference. Offers a brief description of each procedure. Features bulleted lists of clinical indications, oft-overlooked contraindications, and potential complications. Displays the essential equipment needed to perform the procedure. And more.

In the last few decades, our increased knowledge of the mechanisms involved in wound repair has stimulated the development of many new dressings and wound management techniques. If these are to be used in the most appropriate and cost-effective manner, practitioners must have a good understanding of the properties and key functions of the products concerned. This book has been produced to offer specific guidance in this important area, containing chapters on silver dressings, honey products, medical maggots and negative pressure therapy in addition to more conventional products including hydrocolloids, foam, films and fibrous dressings made from alginate or CMC. Each chapter contains an account of the historical development, structure and method of use of the individual treatments, and all of this information is supplemented by the results an extensive review of the clinical literature for each product group. A final chapter offers some simple observations on the principles of dressing selection by making reference to a variety of different wound types. This section also illustrates how the use of an incorrect treatment may cause significant problems to the patient and their carers. The book contains 720 pages and 125 illustrations, many in full colour, making it perhaps the most comprehensive source of reference of its type currently available.

In this issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics of North America, guest editors Drs. Henry Galan and Patricia Huguelet bring their considerable expertise to the topic of Emergencies in Obstetrics and Gynecology. This issue provides a comprehensive overview of obstetric and gynecologic emergencies, with emphasis on standards of practice and interdisciplinary collaboration. Expert authors discuss how to arrive at a differential diagnosis and how to prevent, manage, and treat an emergency. Contains 15 practice-oriented topics including hypertensive crisis in pregnancy; sexual assault/domestic violence; evaluation and management of heavy vaginal bleeding (non-cancerous); first trimester miscarriage; simulation in Ob/Gyn emergencies; and more. Provides in-depth clinical reviews on emergencies in obstetrics and gynecology, offering actionable insights for clinical practice. Presents the latest information on this timely, focused topic under the leadership of experienced editors in the field. Authors synthesize and distill the latest research and practice guidelines to create clinically significant, topic-based reviews.

This book is a practical revision guide for postgraduates preparing for the OSCE element of the FRCEM Final examinations. Divided into nine sections, each chapter covers a different element of the exam, beginning with history taking and communication skills, then discussing various systems of the body. Each station opens with a summary of relevant clinical information, followed by a practice OSCE scenario and examiner mark sheet. This third edition has been fully updated in line with the FRCEM Final syllabus and features many new scenarios, providing candidates with the ideal revision tool to help them achieve success in the examination. Key points Practical revision guide for candidates preparing for the OSCE element of the FRCEM Final examinations Covers various elements of the exam including history taking and communication skills, and various systems of the body Each station provides a summary of relevant clinical information, a practice scenario and examiner mark sheet Fully revised, third edition updated in line with the FRCEM Final syllabus and with many new scenarios