Rod BrouhardCritiques

It may be a little weird to say, but paramedics, in my experience, have been great folks. Rod Brouhard, the author of Life's Little Emergencies, seems to be no exception. There are some tales from his experience in the field that make this more than an average first aid reference book, warm and funny and ultimately rather comforting, which do not take away from its utility as a first aid reference book. It's all here, from bumps and bruises to major catastrophes, the topics organized to be located easily when they're needed and clearly and effectively illustrated.

The subtitle of the book is "A Handbook for Active Independent Seniors and Caregivers", which – the latter part being applicable to me – was what prompted me to put my name in for the book on LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program. However, while the senior-oriented sections of the book are expanded, this is a good book to have handy for anyone's little emergencies.½

Excellent resource not just for seniors but anyone. The book includes examples and tips; problem prevention as well as decision-making information on when to call 9-1-1 and what to expect once you do. Written by an EMT, the book explains what works (preparing a written medical history and telling someone in the family where it is) and what doesn't. Until I read this, I thought that the gadget I found in a catalog that saves your medical history on a USB drive was a good idea. (It isn't) and he explains why. I appreciated his honesty on what really happens when an ambulance has to be called. The most common emergency situations that a senior citizen can find themselves in are explained and preparations to prevent them or work through them are explained in a concise, friendly manner. Brouhard has included references to helpful websites with each chapter. A good reminder for anyone that has taken a first aid or first responder course; and a good resource for those that have not. Read through it once; then put it in an accessible place in the house for reference when needed.

My kind of emergency handbook: short and to the point. It is going on the shelf next to my pediatric emergency book: that one will still be for the kids and this one will be for me and the things I can anticipate as I grow older. It includes weblinks but since those can change, I'll rely more on what is in the book.

This is a valuable book, but it's definitely for use BEFORE an emergency. This would be true of any first aid guide, however; it's good to know what's in there, and have some basic ideas about good things to do before you need them.

My only quibble, really, is the photographs. The reproduction is pretty bad, and, because of the dingy look, have a "feel" as if they were shot in, say, the 60s.

That said, I appreciate having this guide, and I'm going to be providing it to my Mom's caregivers. Everyone is actually pretty likely to go ahead and call an ambulance, but Mom gets really upset and tends to underreport if she thinks it will involve doctors. Perhaps knowing that we're a little better equipped with information will encourage her to keep us up on what's going on -- like the time she broke her collarbone, but didn't tell us until she was unable to use her arm. And was careful to not let anyone see the injury!

Reading this book was like chatting with a friendly neighbor who just happens to be a paramedic.

The tone is conversational yet to the point and covers just about every situation that can come up in regards to "oops" moments in senior care. Author Rod Brouhard shares what he has learned in his 20+ yrs of working in emergency medical services (EMS) and I found it interesting and informative seeing medical care from that perspective (as opposed to a doctor/nurse viewpoint). Brouhard carefully walks you through the 6 reasons that are immediate causes to call 911 (and also gives an extremely important info on how to make the call/talk to the dispacher - which is more complicated than it appears). Further topics are: compiling a medical history (an important thing to do in advance of needing EMS), safety and first aid gear, how to deal with medications, life saving skills, how to deal with injuries and illnesses (which was surprisingly different for seniors as opposed to other adults) and finally, dealing with environmental issue (from weather to traveling). The book is comprehensive and strikes just the right balance between lay person speak and medical jargon.

That said, I do have some caveats about this book.

First, while this is a great medical reference, it is not a book you want to open for the first time DURING an emergency. To get the most benefit from it I would strongly recommend that it be read through, at least once, before having "need" of it. Just like a conversation, this book occasionlly gets off track and/or scatters information around in several places. I also found some sentence structure unclear at times. Best to clear up any confusion before an emergency (an "on the Internet" section at the end of each chapter was very helpful with this). Second, there was a nifty flow chart graphic that was used for some of the medical situations - I would like to have seen more situations using this device. And lastly, while there were a number of pictures in the book, they were not labeled so sometimes there was some guesswork involved as to what body part I was looking at (gee, I really HOPE that's a knee I'm looking at).

These minor issues aside, I found myself really enjoying the book. The personal stories were interesting (although I will never look at a broom handle again without cringing a little) and the book, as a whole, was well written. And even though the target audience for this book is seniors, I would recommend this book for anyone in need of a first aid type medical reference.½

This is an excellent book for emergencies. While the focus is on senior care, this book is full of information to be used for almost any emergency - regardless of the age of the injured person.

Great sourcebook for common problems encountered with Seniors. As a caregiver it's nice to be able to look up problems and make some judgement on what to do next - treat at home or rush to the doctor. It's also a good source to understand some of the issues aging parents might be facing.

The book is written in layman terms and is easy to understand. The author also adds some humor making the book more interesting to read. I found the book to be very practical. There was information for almost every emergence. The web links at the end of each chapter are helpful if you want more information regarding the subject in that chapter. Included are medical history and daily medications forms. They can be very helpful tools especially during an emergency. It's a very good book that will be useful in every home.

The books covers a variety of medical problems. It is similar to a first aid book but is written with a focus on the elderly and is written for understandability. I liked the book and consider it a good reference. The book also includes appropriate diagram/pictures. The author appears knowledgeable and also has a sense of humor. The book could be useful under many circumstances but the most acute problems would require immediate action and/or medical assistance and the book is likely to not be consulted in time critical situations. The depth of the information is somewhat shallow, so additional information may be needed in many situations.

Good reference book about handling emergencies - not just for seniors. Rod Brouhad writes with humor to keep the reader's interest but that doesn't distract from the good advice he gives. Included in the book are two forms that he invites the reader to make copies of and keep current for everyone in your household - medical history and daily medications. This is a very important tool.

Rod Brouhard's book, Life's Little Emergencies: A Handbook for Active Independent Seniors and Caregivers belongs in every household no matter what the age of the occupants. Mr. Brouhard has over twenty years of experience as a paramedic and a firefighter. He presents his wealth of knowledge in a conversational style which is easy to understand. He advises that "Emergencies are the part of our lives we need to guide with instinct; we need to follow our gut." While acknowledging that there all sorts of emergencies, he provides examples when 911 should always be called. Alternatives are also detailed for what might be considered as "not quite emergencies". These include calling 311 where available and medical alert companies. There are sections that provide valuable advice about CPR, burns, bleeding and cuts just to name a few topics. The book is informative, educational and a valuable reference book.
I recommend it for everyone and suggest that it be read and then reread.
I recieved this book from LibraryThing Early Reviewers at no charge and I provide this review willingly.

Life’s little emergencies covers medical emergencies and what to do when they occur. First, the author is clear that this book is no substitute for medical help. The most important advice he gives is to call 911 when 6 common symptoms occur. With others, he gives advice on whether it is an emergency, whether the doctor should be called or if it can wait. In the event of heart attack or stroke, do not call your doctor; get help immediately through 911. There is plenty of other common sense advice, from insect bites to fainting spells to what should be in a good first aid kit.

Rod Brouhard writes in an easy and relaxed style, making the book an easy read and well organized. There are plenty of illustrations which enhance the text. The photos of how to use an epipen were especially helpful as were the illustrations on CPR. The flow charts where your answers will dictate the appropriate response were also helpful. The author also includes sidebars with further explanations outside of the flow of text. There is an index along with endnotes (mostly websites). At the end of each chapter there are resources from the internet which can be checked. Most of these are government websites, PubMed articles, or the about.com site, where the author is a contributor. However, be aware that websites appear and disappear with regularity, including those of the government.

The subtitle, A handbook for active independent seniors and caregivers, does not do the book justice. Of course, many seniors have medical emergencies but this book is of value for all age groups. Keep it handy for quick reference and take the author’s advice. Call 911 when you feel it necessary.½

First of all, as the primary caregiver to my 76 year old mother who is quite blind and immobile, I am very grateful that I was fortunate enough to receive a copy of this book as an early reviewer. Thank you to LT and the publishers.

This really is an invaluable little book to have on hand. It is concise, logical, and very practical. I like how the author goes into just the right amount of depth on a subject without going too deep. I happen to be someone who appreciates understanding why certain things happen. In chapter 25 he briefly describes why we shiver and in chapter 23 he provides a little more info on body temperature. These examples seem simple enough, but it helps me wrap my mind around the subject better. To be fully useful, I highly recommend that you read the book through atleast once and then keep it within arms-reach. It's a tremendous reference guide and was surprisingly quite a fun read considering the subject matter. Another reviewer suggested that a spiral-bound edition would be more useful and I couldn't agree more as it would be much easier to use in the event that you really needed it. Another suggestion would be some kind of handy, fold-out, at-a-glance chart that gave quick instructions for common emergencies. I highly recommend this book and congratulate the author on a fine job.

Sometimes I wonder how useful any first aid book can be, because in a real emergency, who takes time to read a book? Rod Brouhard strikes a good balance between giving you the facts FAST (for real emergencies) and entertaining you so that you'll read the whole book (helping you prepare BEFORE the emergency).

For example, the very first page begins with six reasons to put the book down right now and call 911. After listing the six, Brouhard says, "Assuming these emergencies aren't happening right now, I encourage you to read on," and he continues with a funny account of teaching kindergartners about 911, a story that has lessons for us grownups.

I think Brouhard's voice is the best part of the book; he explains things that seniors might not know, like the difference between a cordless phone and a wireless phone, without once condescending. His stories are backed up with years of experience as an EMT, and he has a good sense of humor. For example, one chapter (about accidental falls) is called "Have a Nice Trip; See You Next Fall." And his directions (for everything from splinter removal to amputations) are very easy to understand. The book gives internet URLs for more information, and it contains some information that I haven't seen anywhere else, such as an overview of different types of medic alert services.

I took off a half star because there were some photos I wish I hadn't seen, such as a photo of a gaping wound. That is probably too squeamish of me, since I guess that photo could be useful for someone trying to decide whether stitches are needed. Until the wound photos, I was wishing that the book had photos in color. After the wound photos, I was glad the whole book was black & white.

Even the stories will have special interest for seniors, such as one story about a grandpa who had heart trouble while watching his 9yo grandson and unwisely tried to drive them both to the emergency room. (That one has a happy ending, fortunately, but it was close.)

But honestly, I think this book would be useful for any household, not just a senior citizen household. It gives information about first aid for all ages (e.g., infant cpr) because grandparents are caregivers too.½

Well done and a clearly useful book. I didn't know quite what to expect when this book arrived. As I was definitely very interested therefore I started reading right away. To say I was impressed with the Table of Contents immediately, THAT is very true. There is a lot in this worthwhile little book! I could see I was in for an unexpected pleasure reading this book.

THIS is a book for every home. How much do I truly recommend it: FIVE (5) ***** STARs worth! GREAT work in organization, writing, and yet a fun read also.
I FEEL VERY fortunate to have been given this book through LibraryThings' EARLY Reviewers program. Thank you. This book has been a real GIFT.

This is a book that should be read, reread and then placed near at hand so that it might be referenced when need arises. It is succinct, readable, and informative. Although it is written with seniors and senior care givers as its primary audiences, it is directly applicable to parents and others, such as teachers, who are apt to be called upon for dealing with life’s emergencies.
Good books of this nature tell us what to do; better books also tell us what not to do including things we might have learned from parents or older information sources that have proven to be either ineffective or downright contra-indicated. This is one of those better books. It is logically divided into four sections The first lays the groundwork with some general guidance. Section II focuses on the most dire of eventualities: what to do when lives are at stake. A wide range of specific illnesses and injuries are discussed in the third section; it is this part of the book most apt to be referenced when specific emergencies are encountered. Each chapter or subsection includes a flow chart to guide the decision process to treat or call for help and numerous illustrations augment the text. The last section shifts the perspective from the patient to the hazardous situations and environments that are apt to be encountered and the precautions that should be taken to avoid situations or to treat the consequences.
Like many health and safety manuals of this nature, it should be read from cover to cover at least once and, preferably, multiple times not only so that its principle points can be learned but also so that its structure can be engrained to enable quick reference to an applicable item when the need arises.
The single fault I find with this book is related to that last point – its use as a reference guide when time is or may be of essence and is not related to its content or readability but to its use. The binding inhibits its utility; the book does not open and lay flat. This causes difficulty when, for instance, one hand holds a compress over a wound and the other leafs through the manual to see what needs to be done next. A spiral or ring binding would be much more preferable. Tabs to indicate content location would also help in this regard.
Bottom line: it is a good buy worthy of study but be prepared for some frustration when used as an on the spot reference guide.

Great book! Full of tons of great tips. A super reference to have handy around the house and presented in a readable humorous way.