Children's Medical Emergency Handbook

Steve Pitt is a Toronto-based freelance writer and an award-winning journalist. He has written many young adult and children's books, including Day of the Flying Fox: The True Story of World War II Pilot Charley Fox.

Imagine that you are a parent, guardian, or babysitter with a child
experiencing a major medical emergency. You have dialed 911, but
professional help is still minutes away. (In situations involving, say,
choking or bleeding, every second counts.) As you wait for the ambulance
to arrive, what can you do to improve the child’s chances of full
recovery or even, in some cases, survival?

This handbook, co-published by the Hospitals of Regina Foundation, is
specifically designed for caregivers requiring emergency medical
information under highly stressful conditions. The spiral-bound book
lies open on its own so that a reader’s hands can remain free at all
times. The contents are organized alphabetically and written in
easy-to-follow language. Each page is supported with simple diagrams to
help the reader understand the rudiments of emergency treatment. The
overall format is so simple that a youngster might even be able to use
the book’s information to save an adult’s life.

Besides immediate emergencies, the handbook also provides more than 150
basic common-sense prevention tips for creating a safer home environment
for a child. Also included is a 22-page wellness section that discusses
child fitness, toy safety, and even television viewing.

The Children’s Medical Emergency Handbook should be on every
caregiver’s must-buy list.