The study of first aid techniques should be a continuous process for two basic reasons. The first is that protocols change and improve with time and it is good to stay current with the latest protocols. The second is that our knowledge has a finite half life. We tend to forget what we do not use and it is important to continuously refresh our memory. The following books are ones that Paratus Institute staff use for this purpose:

Wilderness First Aid, Emergency Care for Remote Locations. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS),Howard D. Backer et al., Published by Jones and Bartlett

The current base text for our BSA Wilderness First Aid Course. This text is well written and well illustrated and a good basic reference.

Wilderness First Aid Field Guide, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), Alton L. Thygerson, EdD, FAWM, Steven M. Thygerson, PhD, MSPH, Published by Jones and Bartlett

The current student text for our BSA Wilderness First Aid Course. This text is a small format, spiral bound, water resistant field guide.

Wilderness and Travel Medicine, Eric A. Weiss, Published by Adventure Medical Kits

Dr. Weiss is at the forefront of those establishing wilderness protocols and pedagogy. We find all his publications to be of high quality and utility. This text is a small format field guide with more comprehensive medical information than the AAOS guide above.

Wilderness 911, Eric A. Weiss, Published by The Mountaineers

The base text for our standard (non-BSA curriculum) Wilderness First Aid course. An outstanding general text. Well organized, easily understood, fairly comprehensive.

Mountaineering First Aid, Jan D. Carline et al, Published by The Mountaineers

The base text for our now obsolete Wilderness First Aid Basic course. A very readable text with a mountain climber’s focus.

Basic Illustrated Wilderness First Aid, William Forgey, Published by Falcon Guides

Dr. Forgey is at the forefront of those establishing wilderness protocols and pedagogy. He was a major driver in the creation of the current WFA curriculum for BSA, GSA, ACA, etc. This text is a quick reference rather than a major guide. Excellent for quick pre-trip review. A little on the large format side for a carry along book.

Wilderness Medicine, Beyond First Aid, William Forgey, Published by ICS

A reference text for supplemental materials in our Wilderness First Aid courses and for our advanced Wilderness First Aid courses. A good first place to go for those who found that our WFA course just whet their appetite for more.

Outward Bound Wilderness First Aid Handbook, Jeffrey Isaac, Lyons Press

Another reference for supplemental materials in our Wilderness First Aid courses and for our advanced Wilderness First Aid courses. This book has a slightly different philosophical approach to case resolution than the one we currently teach.

Special Operations Forces Medical Handbook

This handbook replaced several operational medicine handbooks in the Department of Defense when a consolidated Special Operations Command was created. It is, in our opinion, as good as it gets for field medicine outside of a hospital setting. It is very comprehensive, but it is not an easy read as it assumes a higher level of medical training than most first-aiders have. In theory it is public domain. We reference the 2001 edition here as it is the most recent edition that we have found available on the web as a free pdf download. There is a 2008 edition available from the Government Printing Office at about $60 US in country and $85 US for foreign buyers.