I found this book at the U.S. Forest Service office for the Shasta-Trinity Forest in Mt. Shasta, CA. It is a great introduction to the topic with a good blend of scientific and technical info mixed with plain english writing.
Its full title is:
Hypothermia, Frostbite and other Cold Inuries: Prevention, Recognition, and Prehospital Treatment.
By J. Wilkerson, M.D. Ed., C. Bangs, M.D., and J Hayward, Ph.D. (biologist); with the assistance of M. Tuttle, Merced, Ca.
It comes with some pictures of various types and stages of hypothermic – frostbite injuries. It also makes it clear that some common sense reactions to finding a person in a hypothermic condition may, if engaged in, cause death or serious injury to the victim of hypothermia — including moving them, giving them warm fluids, taking them to a base camp by carrying them, etc.
What is great about it for me, as someone heading into snow and sub-freezing weather for the first time as a serious endeavor is the explanation of what frostbite and hypothermia are, how they progress, possible treatment options before medical intervention, etc. But, most importantly, it emphasizes that prevention, through proper gear selection and knowledge about conditions and choices of technique, is the best 'cure.'
It includes what may be a somewhat dated description of various materials and methods to use in chosing insulating gear and fabric / insulation materials characteristics. But, in the main it mirrors all the reviews and informative articles here at BPL.
Here is the book link at Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/Hypothermia-Frostbite-Other-Cold-Injuries/dp/0898860245/sr=8-3/qid=1169079712/ref=sr_1_3/104-5918548-5421565?ie=UTF8&s=books
Amazon.com describes it, citing Library Journal, as:
"From Library Journal:
Writing for outdoor enthusiasts and attendant emergency medical personnel, the authors (two medical doctors and a biologist) explain the stages of physiological deterioration of the human body as its core temperature decreases. They discuss recognizing hypothermia (not always easy) and procedures for rewarming. They deal less fully with frostbite and other cold injuries. The book is comparable to Robert S. Pozos and David O. Born's Hypothermia: causes, effects, prevention (New Century, 1982), although there are slight differences in treatment protocols. Illustrations are too few and no index was seen. Recommended for those who want a readable treatise on cold injuries and who do not have Pozos and Born's book. Robert Jordan, Iowa Testing Programs, Univ. of Iowa, Iowa City
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc."
It has been cited in 5 publications:
5 books cite this book, according to Amazon.com:
Whitewater Rescue Manual: New Techniques for Canoeists, Kayakers, and Rafters by Charles Walbridge in Back Matter
High-Speed Healing: The Fastest, Safest, And Most Effective Shortcuts To Lasting Relief by Prevention Magazine Editors on page 474
Winter Hiking & Camping: Managing Cold for Comfort & Safety (Backpacker) by Michael Lanza in Back Matter
Snowshoeing: From Novice to Master (Outdoor Expert) by Gene Prater in Back Matter
Day Hiker's Handbook: Get Started With the Experts (Backpacker Magazine) by Michael L. Lanza in Back Matter
The book is in its 5th printing and the one I have is the 1998 edition. Finally, it is nice to know there is a Mountaineering publishing company in Seattle that is taking the time to print books on topics of relevance to UL / SUL / L and all other hikers, packers, and campers. They also publish another book, which I did not purchase, but which was offered at the Forest Sevice office: "Medicine: For Mountaineering & Other Wilderness Activities." 5th Edition (Paperback), also by Wilkerson. It can be purchased with the Hypothermia book for about 30.00 US$ at Amazon.com. (I don't make any money from the sales at Amazon of these books, if anyone was wondering.)
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