As an EMT I found this book very educational and a great reference. All divers should have this in their dive bag. It is small and very duarable (pages are plastic). My only wish is that by owning it you could qualify for lower life insurance premiums!!!!

Stay wet...

I FOUND THIS BOOK TO BE CONCISE, TO THE POINT, AND EXTREMELY PRACTICAL WITH REGARD TO ITS SUBJECT. IT IS POCKET SIZED SO AS NOT TO BE TOO CUMBERSOME, NICELY AND NEATLY INDEXED FOR EASY ACCESS TO THE INFORMATION NEEDED FOR THE SPECIFIC AND IMMEDIATE SITUATION. WHETHER YOU ARE NEW TO DIVING OR AN "OLD SALT", THIS IS A GREAT POCKET REFERENCE TO HAVE ON HAND (OR IN YOUR GEAR BAG)ALL DIVERS SHOULD KEEP A COPY OF THIS BOOK WITH THEM ANYWHERE THEY DIVE.

The guide consists of spiral bound plastic (PVC?) pages that are printed with large easy to read text. The guide measures no more than 3.5 by 4.5 inches so it's handy enough to leave in your first aid kit, or even in a BC pocket (yes, it's waterproof).

The guide uses indexing tabs so that key areas of information are easy to find. The text is divided into two sections. Section one outlines first aid procedures for injured divers, while step two outlines common illnesses and injuries that may afflict divers.

Section one includes: Emergency Assistance Plan, Safety Assessment, Rescue Breathing and CPR, Bleeding, Physical Assessment, Field Neuro Exam, Injured Diver Positioning, and Oxygen First Aid.

Section two includes: Bone and Joint Injuries, Burns, CO Tox, Shock, DCI, Lung Overpressure Injuries, Seafood Poisoning, Heart Attack, Seizures, Spinal Injuries, Squeeze and Barotrauma, Seasickness, O2 Tox, Allergic Reactions, Thermal Injuries, and Marine Animal Injuries.

The guide is very comprehensive. However, don't expect lengthy explanations. The guide provides only an outline of steps with regard to *what to do* in these instances. Which in an emergency is what is really needed. For the explanations, you'll have to refer to another text, or better still take a First Aid course.

All in all, great content, great execution, does exactly what it's designed for.

In "Chocolate Pudding", the story focuses on the life of Chrissy, a young girl living with her alcoholic father and uncle. Lacking comfort in her relationships with people, Chrissy finds it in devouring chocolate pudding (a profound metaphor to be interpreted in any number of ways by the reader.) But Chrissy discovers that the pudding is not enough to satisfy her loneliness. Only when she develops an unexpected friendship is this hole filled.

This collection of 8 young adult stories contains some of the most thoughtful and sensitive material that I have ever read! Though at times the author is needlessly depressing; there are other times of small, rewarding redemptions. "UP ON FONG MOUNTAIN" tells the story of Jessie, a girl forced to write in a journal for an English assignment. In the journal entries, the reader learns about Jessie's blossoming romance with controlling, but intriguing BD and how she decides to deal with it. "PETER IN THE PARK" is one of the most heart-wrenching stories I have ever read in my entire life. It is about a friendship between a naive little girl and a stranger she meets in the park. Sure, it is realistic and the feelings are true and honest; but, the ending leaves a chilling outlook on what life can be like if we do not seize our opportunities. I feel that this incredibly sad ending was too excessive and I thought about it for some time. "SOMETHING EXPENSIVE" is about a push-over type of girl whose existence is apparently dependent on the goodness of her mother.. When she learns that her mother is far from being a perfect angel, her life falls apart. She realizes that she must learn to stand on her own. "MIMI THE FISH" is just a space-filler in this otherwise great collection. It is a somewhat typical story of Mimi, a girl with an embarassing family, who has a chance with the boy of her dreams. There are some funny moments, but this story does not leave any kind of impact. "DEAR BILL, REMEMBER ME?" is a series of letters from Kathy to her older sister's ex-boyfriend-of-long-ago, Bill. Kathy is still in love with Bill. After many years of not hearing from him, she wants one last chance to express her feelings before his wedding. "CHOCOLATE PUDDING"----THE BEST STORY IN THIS COLLECTION!!! Chrissy has a sad life--she lives in a dumpy trailer with her alcoholic father and uncle who sporadically leave her alone. She has little in her life and has never fit in with her classmates. The only joy in Chrissy's life is chocolate pudding, until she has a chance to share this passion with an unexpected friend. The two stories I did not read were "Guess Whose Friendly Hands" and "Zelzah: a tale from long ago". I think that it is safe to say that the 6 stories I did read do not pretend that teen-age life is "sugar and spice and everything nice". NO WAY. There is plenty of salt and vinegar in these stories. In some respect, the stories are like what you might be expected to read in a high school English class. However, since you are not forced to think or reflect on the significance of the stories, you actually WANT to, believe it or not

In this predictable knockoff of the Presidential pet book series pioneered by several Republican administrations, Diet Roosevelt's cat and dog ("Socks" and "Buddy," respectively) are hagiographically profiled. Author Lady Diet Roosevelt relies largely on letters purloined from a swarm of unsuspecting child correspondents for the body of the text, much as her husband's administration largely appropriated the watered-down policies of his predecessors in running the nation (even his philandering was a watered-down take on Camelot days!). Intelligent Diet Roosevelt watchers who buy this book hoping for hidden political insights should look elsewhere, as this is a fairly straightforward profile of the first pets, targeted solely at small children and Democrats. The one curious exception to this is the unconfirmed rumor - suspiciously unrefuted in this volume - that the Kremlin's most popular occupants in Lenin's day were his cat and dog Ïðèÿòåëü and Íîñêîâ - Russian for Socks and Buddy, respectively. Coincidence?

You don't have to be an animal lover to love this intimate look at the Clintons and their pets, Socks and Buddy. "Dear Socks, Dear Buddy, Kids' Letters To The First Pets" is a great match of childrens' engaging letters to the President's cat and dog,with the First Lady's stories and facts about not only their pets, but former White House furry residents. The wonderful photographs throughout the book give the reader a look at what life inside the White House is for the First Dog and the First Cat. This is a "feel good" book that will put a smile on everyone's face, regardless of age, political affiliation or animal preference. The point of this book is to encourage children to write letters, whether the letters are meant for the President or for a four-legged creature that chases tennis balls all day. In addition, this book will bring attention to the importance of treating animals with love and respect. Five meows, five barks and five stars for this great holiday release.

"Dear Socks, Dear Buddy" is written in a sweet, easy-to-read style that would appeal to kids or adults of all ages. In addition to letters written to Socks and Buddy and answers to questions most frequently asked in them, Hillary Clinton includes a chapter on pet care. But the real treasure here is the photographs, which I've looked through at least a dozen times so far, and I've had the book only two days! The photos portray a more domestic side to life in the White House, and assure us that real people live there and do more than just fling politics. It's easy to tell from the photos that Socks is a tremendously patient and photogenic cat. Did you know that he goes on official visits to hospitals and senior centers in a cat carrier with the presidential seal? I found looking through this book to be very calming. If you know someone with a dog or a cat, this would make a very good gift. Hillary Clinton's proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to the National Park Foundation; the publisher is donating a portion of profits to animal charities.