Personal safety Books

Book SynopsisTrade ReviewBravo Dr. Richard Klein for exposing the dangers patients face due to negligent hospital and physician care. -- Alfred DelBello, attorney and Former Yonkers mayor, Westchester County Executive, and New York State Lieutenant GovernorThis is a courageous expose of negligent practices in his own profession and serves as an important guide for people in need of medical care. -- Dee DelBello, CEO and Publisher, Westchester Business PublicationsDr. Kleins' book hits the nail on the head. The lack of quality care and the danger in many of our hospitals is a timely issue as our nation considers health care reform. It's important that everyone take control of their own health care and protect themselves against careless practitioners. His examples and advice on taking more control of one's own health care will go a long way to creating a better and safer system. -- Andrew J. Spano, County Executive, Westchester County, NYDr. Klein provides a practical and detailed analysis of what patients should know about the health care system, so they can become more informed health care consumers. -- William H. Frishman M.D., New York Medical College and Westchester Medical CenterThis passionate and smart book is by someone who both deeply understands how sick our health care system is and what the best remedies are to make it well. The state and country need more doctor-advocates like Richard Klein. -- Mark Green, president, Air America Media, and Former NYC Public AdvocateKlein is a practicing physician who has often testified as an expert witness in cases alleging medical malpractice. From his two perspectives, he offers an insightful look at all the things that can—and often do—go wrong in medicine, from doctors inducing infection to mix-ups in patient records and prescriptions....A very valuable resource, particularly as the nation considers overhauling the health-care system. * Booklist *With at least 100,000 hospital patients dying each year, associate professor and practicing internist Klein calls medical malpractice in the U.S. a “pandemic,” with mortality numbers comparable to “smoking, auto accidents, and pollution,” placing the U.S. behind most of Europe....Klein offers anecdotes and examples from his own career with internal and infectious medicine, as well as his experience as an expert witness in malpractice litigation, in this useful...resource. * Publishers Weekly *Klein writes in a breezy, conversational style and includes personal stories that make it easy to understand the types of medical errors under discussion. Patients will appreciate the useful advice, and those interested in health-care policy reform will find timely information, too. * Library Journal, Starred Review *Surviving Your Doctors: Why the Medical System is Dangerous to Your Health and How to Get Through it Alive describes details of various illnesses as well as what happens or can happen during an emergency room or doctor's office visit. There's plenty of information here that you won't find anywhere else. Dr. Klein tells us what we should know ahead of time and steps we should take to help insure the safety and health of our loved ones and ourselves.... This is a well written informative health book that should be on everyone's bookshelves. It might save your life. * Midwest Book Review *This book is a timely and much-needed guide to getting the best care possible out of a flawed system, offering patients a prescription for maneuvering their way through the healthcare maze.... From emergency rooms to pharmacies; from surgery to doctor's office, this book reveals how things really work, what medical workers really think and how to take back control of your health and the care you receive. * The Sunday Republican *The advice given to patients is appropriate….The central theme that patients need to do the work to keep themselves safe within the system deserves attention. * Family Medicine *Filled with real stories of medical mishaps, anecdotes and checklists, this book will walk readers through major areas of the medical world - from the doctor's office to the pharmacy, from the laboratory to the emergency room - giving them a clearer picture of how things really work, what health care workers really think, and how to take back control of your health and the care you receive. * Vicksburg Post *Table of ContentsIntroduction Part I: Everday Medical and Health Concerns Chapter 1. Taking Control of Your Healthcare: Or, the Wisdom of Second and Third Opinions Chapter 2. Insurance Companies: Organized Crime or Just Bad Policies? Chapter 3. An Apple A Day: And Other Things to Protect Your Health When Visiting the Doctor's Office Chapter 4. Does Your Kid Really Need That Shot?: Protecting Your Children in the System Chapter 5. The Pharmacy and Prescription Drugs: Or Beware, the Spoonful of Sugar That Helps the 'Bad Medicine' Go Down Chapter 6. Visiting the ER without Feeling Like a Bit Player on a TV Drama Part II: Major Diseases and Long-Term Issues Chapter 7. A Real Heart-to-Heart about Cardiac Care Chapter 8. How to Handle the Big C from A to Z Chapter 9. Baby Boom or Bust: How to Stroll through Maternity, Neonatal, and Fertiltiy Issues Chapter 10. You Give Me Fever: Infection and Communicable Diseases Chapter 11. How to Maintain Some Sanity in the Mental Health System Part III: The Hospital and Major Procedures Chapter 12. Hospital Out-Patient Visits and How to Make Sure that You Actually Get Out Chapter 13. Hosptial Stays: As Dangerous as a War Zone? Chapter 14. Medical Test and How to Avodi Becomding a Lab Rat Chapter 15. Major Surgeries: Or, How to Make Sure You Still Have a Leg to Stand on Afterward Part IV: The Future of Medicine Chapter 16. A Cure for the Medical System

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Book SynopsisThe last time you went to your doctor, you might have emerged feeling dissatisfied and disoriented. Nothing was clear after you left the office, and you don't know whether it's your fault or the doctor's. But that's beside the point: the important thing is to identify the problem at the root of this experience and take steps to change it. Talking to Your Doctor helps readers navigate the new, more promising waters of doctor-patient collaboration, starting at the simplest and most human interactionthe conversation between two people in a roomand ending with the benefits that can be obtained by cultivating an effective partnership. While patients need to take control of the visit and set their agenda, the latest research shows that doctors and patients need to connect on a more emotional level as well. In Talking to Your Doctor, readers will:Learn how to talk to your doctorand get your doctor to talk to youDiscover the science of doctor-patient communication and its relevance to the lay Trade ReviewWhat is the most commonly performed procedure done by a doctor? The answer is surprisingly simple: interviewing patients. The medical interview has four major purposes: building rapport, collecting information, educating, and proposing possible treatments. Berger, an internal-medicine specialist at the Johns Hopkins Hospital, dissects the dynamics and studies the flow of doctor-patient encounters. He offers suggestions for effectively communicating with your doctor (even when you are nervous, embarrassed, and intimidated). Some of the most frequent emotions surfacing during a doctor’s visit are fear, anger, sadness, and frustration. Yet good physicians can help patients plot a course through difficult times by expressing empathy and exercising “emotional nimbleness.” Berger writes, “Healing depends on sensitive emotional navigation as much as objective truth.” Every visit to the doctor’s office is an opportunity for a new beginning and an important dialogue about remaining healthy or feeling better. Patients should feel comfortable about expressing their concerns, and physicians need to listen carefully. Berger’s book lays a strong foundation. * Booklist *Dr. Berger provides practical, effective advice for how to better communicate with your doctor. By following this book's advice, patients can more effectively communicate, better understand what they should do, and ultimately be more likely to get and stay well. -- Peter Pronovost, MD, PhD, Director of the Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality, Johns Hopkins Medicine ; author of Safe Patients, Smart Hospitals: How One Doctor's Checklist Can Help Us Change Health Care from the Inside OutI have read a great many books written by patients that focus on how to survive a hospital stay or contain guidance to help the reader get the most out of their doctor’s appointment. I have also read a great deal of such books written by doctors. These tomes are often written in an earnest manner but can be hard for the layman to follow. I was so excited when I heard Zackary Berger would be writing this book, Talking to Your Doctor. I was familiar with his lyrical writing style from articles and blogs. I am pleased to see his talent on full display in this long form narrative. “Talking to Your Doctor” is humorous and insightful. I got a real kick out of his decision to focus on embarrassing questions in Chapter 11. Not many authors have the subtle wit to make such comparisons. Please read this lovely conversation that is wrapped within the pages of a book. You will not regret it. -- Regina Holliday, Patient Rights Artist and Activist, The Walking GalleryThere are many reasons that poorer people are sicker people, but one that's often overlooked is miscommunication between doctors and their poorest, most marginalized patients. While it's usually the case that doctors are from Mars and patients from Venus, this is especially the case when there are gaps in language, culture, education and class. In Talking to Your Doctor, Zackary Berger shows us how to turn those all-too-brief and awkward exchanges into a foundation for getting better. -- Tina Rosenberg, author of Children of Cain: Violence and the Violent in Latin AmericaIn Talking to Your Doctor, Zackary Berger provides an invaluable lesson to patients—regardless of being in a chronic disease state or suffering a single bout of illness, patients must take responsibility for clearly communicating their symptoms and desired outcomes of care to their doctors. Clinical findings cannot do what the patient voice can do in defining what sickness means to the individual patient. With Berger’s guidance, patients can empower themselves to better explain their concerns and work with their doctors to achieve meaningful solutions. Berger also encourages his fellow physicians to engage in redefining the doctor-patient relationship to be one of mutual respect and open dialogue so that both doctor and patient find greater satisfaction in their clinical interactions. -- Sarah E. Kucharski, Patient Advocate, Health Blogger (AfternoonNapper), CEO/Chairman and Founder of FMD ChatDr. Berger rigorously reviews the ins and outs of doctor-patient communication to find what you need to do to get the best healthcare: better conversations with your doctor. -- Victor Montori, MD, MSc, professor of Medicine, Mayo ClinicTable of ContentsPreface Acknowledgments Dedications Chapter 1: The Most Frequent Procedure Chapter 2: Visit Time and Clock Time Chapter 3: What We Want as Patients: Lessons from Communication Science Chapter 4: The Doctor as a Professional - in Our Eyes Chapter 5: Measuring How Good Our Doctors Are Chapter 6: Telling Our Story: Taking the Time to Express Our Health Concerns to Ourselves and Others Chapter 7: Make The Most of the Visit Through Mindfulness Chapter 8: How To Communicate Even While Intimidated, Limited, Uncomfortable, or Under-Educated Chapter 9: What We’re Talking About: Negotiating The Agenda With the Doctor Chapter 10: Acknowledge - and Use - Emotion and Motivation Chapter 11: How To Talk to the Doctor About What Makes You Nervous, Embarrassed, or Grossed Out Chapter 12: Making Healthy Communities with Healthy Communication Chapter 13: Learning How to Want Less: Creating a Resource-Sparing Medical Culture Together with Our Doctors Chapter 14: Transforming Our Health Care System Through Communication and Collaboration Bibliography

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Book SynopsisLast year America's 76 million children made 27 million trips to hospital emergency departmentsone for every three children. That represents a lot of fevers, coughs, sore ears, twisted ankles, and broken bones, plus the wide gamut of other illnesses and injuries children can experience. Whether or not an emergency room visit was warranted for each of these visits, however, is an entirely different story. Keeping Your Kids Out of the Emergency Room is an essential guide to the most common illnesses, injuries, and ailments that send kids to the ER, and when particular symptoms warrant those trips or not. Christopher Johnson, a seasoned pediatrician, offers a go-to resource for all new parents and parents of young children, providing solid information on those instances when a trip to the ER is essential, when a trip to the doctor will suffice, and when a wait and see approach works best. He tackles all the most common ailments that cause parents to wonder if they should take their chilTrade ReviewWhen we're worried about the health or safety of our children, it's difficult to know which way to turn -- especially when it's 3am! Dr. Johnson's expert and hard-earned lessons, stories, and helpful tips provide clarity in a cloudy world when our kids are sick and we've got no idea where to go. Just when is it okay to wait until morning and when is a midnight run to the ER essential? Although instincts serve us well as parents, this guide can be a great tool for decision-making when we're confused and scared. Added bonus: it's sure to decrease your own blood pressure, too! -- Wendy Sue Swanson, M.D., MBE, FAAP, pediatrician and author of Seattle Mama Doc BlogAn experienced critical care physician has provided the playbook for parents trying to make the ultimate call - do we take our child to the ER, or not? Through practical examples, memorable scenarios, and valuable check lists, Dr. Johnson empowers parents with information necessary to make the best decision for our children when they may need emergency care. The book is organized into a grab-and-go, easily digestible book that can be comfortably read cover to cover, or used as a quick reference tool. Read this one before the unexpected happens in your family. -- Natasha Burgert, M.D., general pediatrician and author of kckidsdoc.comTable of Contents1: To Go or Not to Go: The Parents’ Dilemma 2: What Should You Do? 3: Fever 4: Coughs, Sneezes, Sore Throats, and Ear Aches 5: Breathing Troubles 6: Digestive and Abdominal Problems 7: Bumps and Conks on the Head 8: Sprains, Dislocations, and Broken Bones 9: Cuts, Lacerations, and Other Skin Injuries 10: Rashes 11: Overdoses, Poisonings, and Bites 12: Headaches, Convulsions, and Altered Mental States 13: Allergic Reactions 14: Other Miscellaneous Conditions 15: A Parent’s Guide to How Emergency Departments Work Suggestions for Further Reading

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Book SynopsisIn one of the world’s wealthiest nations, one might expect the food we eat to be safe and free of deadly organisms that might make us sick, but in reality there is very little oversight of our food and its delivery. Here, Charles Duncan reveals the extent of the danger and encourages consumers to make better decisions and demand better safety.Trade ReviewVeteran journalist Duncan demonstrates that fears about food safety in the U.S. are not unfounded. Bit by bit, he examines "our enormous food safety problems," the reasons why the government has failed to protect consumers, and the consequences of such lax oversight. Contamination can affect every "phase of our food chain, from the wheat and corn fields, grazing cattle, slaughterhouses, egg farms, and dairies to our oceans and bays." Meanwhile, global imports generally do not receive proper or sufficient inspection, either. The FDA, for example, inspects less than two percent of foods shipped from China (and more than half of Chinese food processing and packaging firms fail that country’s own safety inspections). Chapters on items such as produce, poultry, and eggs highlight similar themes. According to Duncan, the American government drags its feet and has kept secret public information about enforcement, closures, and seizures of food processors, protecting big businesses at the public’s expense. Subsequent discussions on milk, seafood, and processed meats strike cautionary tones as well. . . .Duncan’s work is comprehensive and readers concerned with the safety and reliability of their foods will appreciate his efforts. * Publishers Weekly *A much-awarded print and TV journalist takes the U.S. food industry to task. Even the statistics he presents alone will alarm. Every year, 3,000 Americans die and 48 million are sickened by food-borne illnesses. Of the 91 percent of seafood the U.S. imports, only 2 percent is inspected. And on and on. Duncan cites many books, chapters, and verses on every aspect of the food industry, from the possibility of bioterrorism through our food supply and the dangers of delicatessens to GMOs (genetically modified organisms) and restaurant food. Although not collected in any one chapter, his advice proves valuable: eat only prepackaged deli foods; don’t drink raw, unpasteurized milk; and select fish with low to moderate mercury. Who has weakened U.S. food chains? The government (USDA and FDA are the largest agencies), which writes laws to favor industry, not the public, and the D.C. bureaucrats who defund and strip food-safety programs to bare bones. In Duncan’s epilogue, readers will see him preparing for his next documentary foray, against sugar. Extraordinarily well researched—and scary. * Booklist *Eat, Drink & Be Wary is a mostly catalog of all the ways food can make us sick, but Charles Duncan concludes with recommendations for making it safer. . . .Charles may be long gone from TV, but it's good seeing that the old watchdog is still on the prowl. * The Dallas Morning News *This book is loosely based on Duncan’s long-running Dallas/Fort Worth television news series. Eat, Drink & Be Wary . . . is [a] recommended (and controversial) reading. * Skagit Valley Herald *Charles Duncan is the Upton Sinclair of his day, delivering a searing, groundbreaking investigative look into the U.S. food industry that is as important as it is disturbing. Eat, Drink & Be Wary is must reading for consumers and those government inspectors tasked with keeping our food safe. Duncan reveals stunning shortfalls in the quality and inspection of domestically grown and imported foods and herbs that are jaw dropping. This is investigative reporting at its best. -- Peter Van Sant, Correspondent, CBS NewsCharles Duncan has written a lively account of the many chinks in the armor meant to protect the safety of our foods and beverages. Globalization, concentration, industrialization, misuse of antibiotics in food animal production, political power of big agriculture, underfunding and ineffectiveness of regulatory agencies – it’s all here in this informative book by a seasoned journalist. -- Robert S. Lawrence, MD, Director, Center for a Livable Future, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthEat, Drink, & Be Wary exposes the ill-gotten gains of the food industry in exhaustive, sometimes stomach-churning detail. The results may shock or surprise you. -- Ed Bark, former longstanding TV critic of The Dallas Morning News and proprietor of the unclebarky.com TV website since 2006Eat, Drink, & Be Wary comes as a rude awakening to the fact that our government is asleep at the wheel in safeguarding our foods. In this book, Charles Duncan has reminded us about the horrifying truth of the deteriorating quality of foods we consume daily. He also informs us, the consumers, as to what we can do to reverse this destructive trend. -- Chensheng Alex Lu, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Environmental Exposure Biology, Harvard School of Public HealthIn Eat, Drink, & Be Wary, Duncan offers us a gruesome panorama of the global food industry, its frailties and its dangers. If we considered food to be a more critical factor in health, we might inspect and care for this system differently. But as Duncan shows, food is but a commodity, inspected and monitored by a lackadaisical political system, created and sold at minimal cost to consumers who are anonymous and replaceable. This book is a quick overview, product by product, crisis by crisis, of the current dangers in our industrial foods. -- Carolyn Smith-Morris, Ph.D., M.S., LPC, Associate Professor, Southern Methodist UniversityA great repository of facts for anyone who is concerned about food safety. It is a much needed outcry for transparency in our food production. -- Mark Post, MD, PhD, professor and chair of Physiology, Maastricht UniversityFoodborne illnesses and the quality of food production and preparation are major issues in the US. This is a must read for every parent and for anyone interested in their general health. The more knowledgeable we are, the more transparent and accountable the industry must become. The quality of our food should always be held to the highest standards and not allowed to continue to be a form of culinary Russian roulette. -- Bill Macatee, announcer for The NFL on CBS, US Open Tennis, GolfIn his carefully researched book, Charles M. Duncan comprehensively addresses hazards as they come with our daily food. Based on solid facts, figures, and references, he fascinatingly discusses nutritional safety and security across the board: from bioterrorism over food imports and genetically modified organisms to outbreaks of food-borne illnesses, and others. The book also includes honed criticism of the dispersion of responsibility an the U.S. system of government, as well as practical tips how to mitigate food-related risks in our everyday lives. This work is an excellent contribution to fostering homeland and civil security debates in an all-hazards context, as well as to increasing societal awareness and preparedness. -- Alexander Siedschlag, Ph.D, Professor and Chair of Homeland Security and Public Health Preparedness, The Pennsylvania State UniversityFor Americans, eating healthy may only be a challenge at the start of our daily routine. Finding a variety of safe, healthy, and available foods impacts the health of us all. As some of our everyday interactions have been marked with more invasiveness, Duncan brings questions food safety, trends in risk management with nutrition and concerns with the oversight needed to prevent food threats from natural hazards to terrorism. Information on eating safely may be a new top of the food pyramid. -- J. Eric Dietz, PhD, PE, Director, Purdue Homeland Security Institute and Professor, Computer and Information TechnologyCharles Duncan has provided a sobering, and potentially stomach-churning, look at the gaps in our food safety system. Controls on food imports are negligible, domestic controls are too lax, and food producers are taking short-cuts and risks that should alarm every consumer. -- Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO, The Humane Society of the United StatesA must read for policy makers and elected officials – while they are eating! Duncan documents one of the most important crises in America – the safety of our food. -- David A. Sterling, Ph.D., CIH, Professor and Chair Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, Director Doctoral PhD Program, School of Public Health, University of North Texas Health Science CenterA lot of the information Charles Duncan includes in Eat, Drink, & Be Wary, is scary as hell! However, by reading this book, we will all be better informed about the choices we made and the foods we eat. Thank you Charles and “BON APPETIT” ya’ll! -- Ruta Lee, Canadian actress, Hollywood, CACharles M. Duncan has assembled a significant amount of data on the problems with allowing uninspected and untested food products to enter the marketplace. Duncan outlines the major failures of the Government agencies in allowing healthy food to reach the tabletop. -- John Ubelaker, Ph.D., Southern Methodist UniversityEat, Drink, & Be Wary is a detailed examination of the failure of government oversight agencies to protect consumers from food companies that place profit above everything else. This failure of the agencies that are supposed to oversee the food industries leads to horrible cruelty to farm animals and a polluted food supply. You will cry and, if you have a dark sense of humor, you will laugh. My hope is that you will also be spurred to action. -- Bruce Friedrich, director, Farm SanctuaryTable of ContentsAcknowledgments Dedication Introduction 1: Bioterrorism, Cyber Attacks 2: Food Imports 3: Produce 4: Poultry 5: Eggs 6: Beef and Pork 7: Milk 8: Seafood 9: Deli Dangers 10: Outbreaks, Illnesses and Deaths 11: Food Fraud and Tampering 12: Foods We Eat, Others Won’t 13: Unwelcomed Critters in Our Foods 14: GMO – Genetically Modified Organisms 15: Generally Recognized as Safe 16: BPA – Bisphenol A 17: Cottage Food Industry and Your Kitchen 18: Restaurants 19: Government’s Report Card Epilogue: Sugar, A Legalized Recreational Drug

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Book SynopsisThis book offers readers an insider’s assessment of doctor-patient communication and provides patients with strategies for making the most of their doctor’s visits.Trade ReviewWhat is the most commonly performed procedure done by a doctor? The answer is surprisingly simple: interviewing patients. The medical interview has four major purposes: building rapport, collecting information, educating, and proposing possible treatments. Berger, an internal-medicine specialist at the Johns Hopkins Hospital, dissects the dynamics and studies the flow of doctor-patient encounters. He offers suggestions for effectively communicating with your doctor (even when you are nervous, embarrassed, and intimidated). Some of the most frequent emotions surfacing during a doctor’s visit are fear, anger, sadness, and frustration. Yet good physicians can help patients plot a course through difficult times by expressing empathy and exercising “emotional nimbleness.” Berger writes, “Healing depends on sensitive emotional navigation as much as objective truth.” Every visit to the doctor’s office is an opportunity for a new beginning and an important dialogue about remaining healthy or feeling better. Patients should feel comfortable about expressing their concerns, and physicians need to listen carefully. Berger’s book lays a strong foundation. * Booklist *Dr. Berger provides practical, effective advice for how to better communicate with your doctor. By following this book's advice, patients can more effectively communicate, better understand what they should do, and ultimately be more likely to get and stay well. -- Peter Pronovost, MD, PhD, Director of the Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality, Johns Hopkins Medicine ; author of Safe Patients, Smart Hospitals: How One Doctor's Checklist Can Help Us Change Health Care from the Inside OutI have read a great many books written by patients that focus on how to survive a hospital stay or contain guidance to help the reader get the most out of their doctor’s appointment. I have also read a great deal of such books written by doctors. These tomes are often written in an earnest manner but can be hard for the layman to follow. I was so excited when I heard Zackary Berger would be writing this book, Talking to Your Doctor. I was familiar with his lyrical writing style from articles and blogs. I am pleased to see his talent on full display in this long form narrative. “Talking to Your Doctor” is humorous and insightful. I got a real kick out of his decision to focus on embarrassing questions in Chapter 11. Not many authors have the subtle wit to make such comparisons. Please read this lovely conversation that is wrapped within the pages of a book. You will not regret it. -- Regina Holliday, Patient Rights Artist and Activist, The Walking GalleryThere are many reasons that poorer people are sicker people, but one that's often overlooked is miscommunication between doctors and their poorest, most marginalized patients. While it's usually the case that doctors are from Mars and patients from Venus, this is especially the case when there are gaps in language, culture, education and class. In Talking to Your Doctor, Zackary Berger shows us how to turn those all-too-brief and awkward exchanges into a foundation for getting better. -- Tina Rosenberg, author of Children of Cain: Violence and the Violent in Latin AmericaIn Talking to Your Doctor, Zackary Berger provides an invaluable lesson to patients—regardless of being in a chronic disease state or suffering a single bout of illness, patients must take responsibility for clearly communicating their symptoms and desired outcomes of care to their doctors. Clinical findings cannot do what the patient voice can do in defining what sickness means to the individual patient. With Berger’s guidance, patients can empower themselves to better explain their concerns and work with their doctors to achieve meaningful solutions. Berger also encourages his fellow physicians to engage in redefining the doctor-patient relationship to be one of mutual respect and open dialogue so that both doctor and patient find greater satisfaction in their clinical interactions. -- Sarah E. Kucharski, Patient Advocate, Health Blogger (AfternoonNapper), CEO/Chairman and Founder of FMD ChatDr. Berger rigorously reviews the ins and outs of doctor-patient communication to find what you need to do to get the best healthcare: better conversations with your doctor. -- Victor Montori, MD, MSc, professor of Medicine, Mayo ClinicTable of ContentsPreface Acknowledgments Dedications Chapter 1: The Most Frequent Procedure Chapter 2: Visit Time and Clock Time Chapter 3: What We Want as Patients: Lessons from Communication Science Chapter 4: The Doctor as a Professional - in Our Eyes Chapter 5: Measuring How Good Our Doctors Are Chapter 6: Telling Our Story: Taking the Time to Express Our Health Concerns to Ourselves and Others Chapter 7: Make The Most of the Visit Through Mindfulness Chapter 8: How To Communicate Even While Intimidated, Limited, Uncomfortable, or Under-Educated Chapter 9: What We’re Talking About: Negotiating The Agenda With the Doctor Chapter 10: Acknowledge - and Use - Emotion and Motivation Chapter 11: How To Talk to the Doctor About What Makes You Nervous, Embarrassed, or Grossed Out Chapter 12: Making Healthy Communities with Healthy Communication Chapter 13: Learning How to Want Less: Creating a Resource-Sparing Medical Culture Together with Our Doctors Chapter 14: Transforming Our Health Care System Through Communication and Collaboration Bibliography

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Book SynopsisCancer affects 1 in 2 persons, and nearly everyone has an autoimmune-related disease or allergy. We live in a world where the incidence of illness grows as fast as the GDP. Industrialization has created a world that puts products before human and environmental health. Exercise and eating right is not enough. In this rapidly growing world, our resources are depleting along with our health and the public sees and feels this daily. Health and Wellness speaker, advocate and Good Home Company Founder, Christine Dimmick, takes a deep dive into the toxins found in our very own homes, and how you can limit your exposure and take control of your own health. Detox Your Home addresses all of these issues from clothing to food to the cleaning products used every day in homes just like yours. Dimmick unveils what manufacturers won't, so you can avoid exposing yourself and your family to the hidden toxins eating away at America's health and wellness. Detox Your Home is the essential go-to bookTrade ReviewDetox Your Home is thoroughly 'user friendly' in tone, commentary, organization and presentation, making it an ideal and invaluable addition to community library Health/Medicine collections. * Midwest Book Review *The author, founder of the Good Home Company, examines the many toxins at play in everyday life. . . The book makes good use of black-and-white tables and figures. The chapter on toxins in children’s toys, for example, has a two-page spreadsheet of the hazardous chemicals used in products designed for children. At the end of the book, readers will find a useful resources section that will direct them to further information and more healthy consumer products. . . recommended for the circulating collection of public libraries. * American Reference Books Annual *Detox Your Home, by Christine Dimmick, founder and CEO of The Good Home Company, tells us how to keep ourselves and our families as free as possible from toxic chemicals. When we purchase laundry detergents and household cleaners, cosmetics, personal care products, food, clothing, toys, and more, we can use this vital information to lead healthier and safer lives. -- Margaret Cuomo, MD, Board-certified Radiologist; author of A World Without Cancer; National Advocate for the Prevention of Cancer, Heart Disease and DiabetesDetox Your Home is impressively comprehensive, meticulously researched and refreshingly practical. For every product, from shampoo to electronics, Dimmick evaluates health and environmental impacts and gives us ways to detox. This landmark reference book makes once hard to find information accessible to all. -- Peggy O'Mara, Editor and Publisher Mothering Magazine, former editor and publisher, Mothering Magazine; author of Natural Family Living: The Mothering Magazine Guide to ParentingTable of ContentsIntroduction: How the Journey Began Labels and Regulators SECTION I: DETOX YOUR SKIN Chapter 1: Face and Body Creams Chapter 2: Shampoos, Soaps, and Conditioners Chapter 3: Beauty Products Chapter 4: Dental Hygiene SECTION II: DETOX YOUR KITCHEN AND PANTRY Chapter 5: GMOs, Organic, and Biodynamic Chapter 6: Pesticides and Bees Chapter 7: Seven Items to Keep and Seven to Throw Out or Avoid Chapter 8: Meat and Fish Defined Chapter 9: Water Chapter 10: Cookware, Composting, and Storage SECTION III: DETOX YOUR CLEANERS Chapter 11: Laundry Chapter 12: Home Cleaning Chapter 13: Specialty Cleaners SECTION IV: DETOX YOUR WARDROBE Chapter 14: Fast Fashion Chapter 15: Hidden Toxins in Our Wardrobes SECTION V: DETOX YOUR STUFF Chapter 16: Electronics and Cell Phones Chapter 17: Hidden Toxins in Our Children’s Toys and Crafts Chapter 18: Mattresses, Pillows and Pain In Summary: Conclusion

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Book SynopsisThe field of education has become a much more dangerous and uncertain world to work in. With threats such as financial cutbacks, pandemics, school shootings, and natural disasters looming over the heads of educators, the need to be ready for the ever-changing world of teaching is more vital now than ever before. Teacher Like a Prepper is a self-development book for educators such as teachers, school administrators, and school support staff as well as people who just want to be better prepared for emergencies situations (preppers). Preppers, sometimes referred to as survivalists, are individuals believes a disaster or emergency is likely to occur in the future and makes active preparations for it. They do this through such acts as stockpiling food, equipment, and other supplies as well as receiving additional training and practicing that training to keep their skills sharp. The book is designed to aid educators in being better prepared not only for emergencies, but also for the everyTable of ContentsIntroductionChapter 1: Home BaseChapter 2: SuppliesChapter 3: Emergency ProceduresChapter 4: Classroom ManagementChapter 5: The SubstituteChapter 6: Getting to Work and BackChapter 7:Recycle and Reuse Chapter 8: The Conclusion About The Author

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Book SynopsisThe field of education has become a much more dangerous and uncertain world to work in. With threats such as financial cutbacks, pandemics, school shootings, and natural disasters looming over the heads of educators, the need to be ready for the ever-changing world of teaching is more vital now than ever before. Teacher Like a Prepper is a self-development book for educators such as teachers, school administrators, and school support staff as well as people who just want to be better prepared for emergencies situations (preppers). Preppers, sometimes referred to as survivalists, are individuals believes a disaster or emergency is likely to occur in the future and makes active preparations for it. They do this through such acts as stockpiling food, equipment, and other supplies as well as receiving additional training and practicing that training to keep their skills sharp. The book is designed to aid educators in being better prepared not only for emergencies, but also for the everyTable of ContentsIntroductionChapter 1: Home BaseChapter 2: SuppliesChapter 3: Emergency ProceduresChapter 4: Classroom ManagementChapter 5: The SubstituteChapter 6: Getting to Work and BackChapter 7:Recycle and Reuse Chapter 8: The Conclusion About The Author

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Book SynopsisReducing health disparities by increasing access to health information is a national health policy priority. Evidence exists that direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical advertising (DTCA) is effective in educating consumers about health issues. However, racial disparities exist in such advertising. In 2009, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a report that included recommendations for enhancing the ability of DTCA to reach disadvantaged populations, including racial and ethnic minorities. Reducing Race Differences in Direct to Consumer Pharmaceutical Advertising compares the pharmaceutical advertisements placed in five popular women's magazines published prior to and following the 2009 FDA report to assess the impact of these recommendations on the content and appearance of advertisements placed in magazines of differing racial orientation. From a health policy perspective, the results are disappointing. The FDA recommendations had no impact on the frequency or content of the DTCATrade ReviewDe Scisciolo and Scheid have asked a critical question related to the advertising of prescription pharmaceuticals to consumers—can such advertising improve health education and health outcomes while also reducing health disparities among ethnic or socioeconomic groups in the population? While effectively executed marketing communications might be able to accomplish the goals above, De Scisciolo and Scheid’s well designed research makes clear that when these organizations are left to their own devices, they do a poor job of delivering on the more lofty potential of direct-to-consumer advertising. They sell more drugs, but do little to improve health education and health outcomes, nor are health disparities improved, despite FDA and industry guidelines designed to facilitate such outcomes. The authors offer some excellent policy recommendations that would likely be far more effective. -- James L. Oakley, Lewis UniversityThis volume is the go-to book for anyone wishing to find out the facts on direct to consumer magazine advertising of prescription drugs—whether you think the practice an outrageous and dangerous invasion of physicians’ prerogatives by evil pharmaceutical companies or long-needed consumer power to control health prices through competition. -- William P. Brandon, Emeritus Metrolina Medical Foundation Distinguished Professor of Health Policy, University of North Carolina CharlotteTable of ContentsIntroduction: Health Disparities and Pharmaceutical Advertising 1. The Pharmaceutical Industry, Direct to Consumer Advertising, and Racial Differences 2. Direct to Consumer Advertising: Patient Empowerment or Manipulation? 3. Comparative Analysis of the Frequency and Type of DTCA 4. Differences in the Appearance and Content of DTCA 5. Examination of the Visual Content of DTCA Conclusion: A Missed Opportunity: Policy Implications

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Book SynopsisHave you ever thought you were being followed or watched? Have you ever needed to follow or observe someone and not be seen?In the world of espionage, surveillance and surveillance detection are a way of life. It is the job of every CIA operations officer to make sure he or she is not under surveillance—that is, being followed to the commission of an “operational act.” It is also the job of every CIA operations officer to surveil his own targets, whether they are terrorists or terrorist suspects, foreign intelligence officers, hostile actors, or even sometimes his own agents for vetting purposes. In everyday life, many people from all walks of life need to know how to perform similar operations. Whether avoiding a stalker, checking up on an unfaithful partner, or just securing one’s own privacy, a working knowledge of modern surveillance and surveillance detection techniques is a critical skill to possess. And there is nobody better to teach that skill than someone trained by the CIA.From former CIA counterterrorism officer John C. Kiriakou, Surveillance and Surveillance Detection: A CIA Insider's Guide takes you through the CIA's surveillance and surveillance detection program. It will teach you to apply CIA surveillance techniques to your own everyday life. You’ll learn how to stay safe, to ensure your privacy, and to keep the honest people honest—the CIA way.

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Book Synopsis"When it comes to chemicals and our bodies, there are no simple answers. Thanks to George Zaidan, there are beautifully clear, elegant, accurate explanations. And they''refunny. Zaidan has accomplished something I would not have thought possible. He has written an entertaining book about chemistry. Thank you, George, for this much-needed breakwater against the tide of misinformation that sloshes onto our screens." ?Mary Roach, author of StiffCheese puffs. Coffee. Sunscreen. Vapes. George Zaidan reveals what will kill you, what won?t, and why?explained with high-octane hilarity, hysterical hijinks, and other things that don?t begin with the letter H. INGREDIENTS offers the perspective of a chemist on the stuff we eat, drink, inhale, and smear on ourselves. Apart from the burning question of whether you should eat those Cheetos, Zaidan explores a range of topics. Here?s a helpful guide: Stuff in this book:- How bad is processed food? How sure are we?- Is sunscreen safe? Should you use it?- Is coffee good or bad for you?- What?s your disease horoscope?- What is that public pool smell made of?- What happens when you overdose on fentanyl in the sun?- What do cassava plants and Soviet spies have in common?- When will you die?Stuff in other books:- Your carbon footprint- Food sustainability- GMOs- CEO pay- Science funding- Politics- Football- Baseball- Any kind of ball, really Zaidan, an MIT-trained chemist who cohosted CNBC?s hit Make Me a Millionaire Inventor and wrote and voiced several TED-Ed viral videos, makes chemistry more fun than Hogwarts as he reveals exactly what science can (and can?t) tell us about the packaged ingredients sold to us every day. Sugar, spinach, formaldehyde, cyanide, the ingredients of life and death, and how we know if something is good or bad for us?as well as the genius of aphids and their butts?are all discussed in exquisite detail at breakneck speed.

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Book SynopsisFood safety has fast become one of the nation’s top issues. Three thousand people die each year in the U.S. from foodborne illnesses. Another 48 million are sickened annually and our government fails to protect us. Many foods and additives that we eat every day have been banned for years in other countries. Our government food safety agencies move in reverse--cutting back on inspections, allowing food producers to inspect themselves, and permitting the vast majority of potentially adulterated foods to enter this country without benefit of any testing or inspection. How, in a country so advanced in most areas, could we have descended to this alarming state of food safety? One answer: Budget cuts and bureaucrats. Eat, Drink, and Be Wary examines the multitude of dangers in food production, transportation, storing, and preparation that result in this shocking number of preventable illnesses and deaths. It takes a broad and detailed look, in all food groups, at the problems and potential solutions in food safety practices, inspections, and enforcements. This book answers the questions and concerns of millions of Americans who have reached new levels of serious doubts about the safety of our food. Charles Duncan points readers to the dangers to look for in deli foods, raw milk, seafood, poultry, eggs, beef, and others. For consumers who care about the food they eat, this book details the dangers, offers direction for choosing safe foods, and provides a critique of our current system that suggests ways it can be fixed, or at least improved.Trade ReviewVeteran journalist Duncan demonstrates that fears about food safety in the U.S. are not unfounded. Bit by bit, he examines "our enormous food safety problems," the reasons why the government has failed to protect consumers, and the consequences of such lax oversight. Contamination can affect every "phase of our food chain, from the wheat and corn fields, grazing cattle, slaughterhouses, egg farms, and dairies to our oceans and bays." Meanwhile, global imports generally do not receive proper or sufficient inspection, either. The FDA, for example, inspects less than two percent of foods shipped from China (and more than half of Chinese food processing and packaging firms fail that country’s own safety inspections). Chapters on items such as produce, poultry, and eggs highlight similar themes. According to Duncan, the American government drags its feet and has kept secret public information about enforcement, closures, and seizures of food processors, protecting big businesses at the public’s expense. Subsequent discussions on milk, seafood, and processed meats strike cautionary tones as well. . . .Duncan’s work is comprehensive and readers concerned with the safety and reliability of their foods will appreciate his efforts. * Publishers Weekly *A much-awarded print and TV journalist takes the U.S. food industry to task. Even the statistics he presents alone will alarm. Every year, 3,000 Americans die and 48 million are sickened by food-borne illnesses. Of the 91 percent of seafood the U.S. imports, only 2 percent is inspected. And on and on. Duncan cites many books, chapters, and verses on every aspect of the food industry, from the possibility of bioterrorism through our food supply and the dangers of delicatessens to GMOs (genetically modified organisms) and restaurant food. Although not collected in any one chapter, his advice proves valuable: eat only prepackaged deli foods; don’t drink raw, unpasteurized milk; and select fish with low to moderate mercury. Who has weakened U.S. food chains? The government (USDA and FDA are the largest agencies), which writes laws to favor industry, not the public, and the D.C. bureaucrats who defund and strip food-safety programs to bare bones. In Duncan’s epilogue, readers will see him preparing for his next documentary foray, against sugar. Extraordinarily well researched—and scary. * Booklist *Eat, Drink & Be Wary is a mostly catalog of all the ways food can make us sick, but Charles Duncan concludes with recommendations for making it safer. . . .Charles may be long gone from TV, but it's good seeing that the old watchdog is still on the prowl. * The Dallas Morning News *This book is loosely based on Duncan’s long-running Dallas/Fort Worth television news series. Eat, Drink & Be Wary . . . is [a] recommended (and controversial) reading. * Skagit Valley Herald *Charles Duncan is the Upton Sinclair of his day, delivering a searing, groundbreaking investigative look into the U.S. food industry that is as important as it is disturbing. Eat, Drink & Be Wary is must reading for consumers and those government inspectors tasked with keeping our food safe. Duncan reveals stunning shortfalls in the quality and inspection of domestically grown and imported foods and herbs that are jaw dropping. This is investigative reporting at its best. -- Peter Van Sant, Correspondent, CBS NewsCharles Duncan has written a lively account of the many chinks in the armor meant to protect the safety of our foods and beverages. Globalization, concentration, industrialization, misuse of antibiotics in food animal production, political power of big agriculture, underfunding and ineffectiveness of regulatory agencies – it’s all here in this informative book by a seasoned journalist. -- Robert S. Lawrence, MD, Director, Center for a Livable Future, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthEat, Drink, & Be Wary exposes the ill-gotten gains of the food industry in exhaustive, sometimes stomach-churning detail. The results may shock or surprise you. -- Ed Bark, former longstanding TV critic of The Dallas Morning News and proprietor of the unclebarky.com TV website since 2006Eat, Drink, & Be Wary comes as a rude awakening to the fact that our government is asleep at the wheel in safeguarding our foods. In this book, Charles Duncan has reminded us about the horrifying truth of the deteriorating quality of foods we consume daily. He also informs us, the consumers, as to what we can do to reverse this destructive trend. -- Chensheng Alex Lu, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Environmental Exposure Biology, Harvard School of Public HealthIn Eat, Drink, & Be Wary, Duncan offers us a gruesome panorama of the global food industry, its frailties and its dangers. If we considered food to be a more critical factor in health, we might inspect and care for this system differently. But as Duncan shows, food is but a commodity, inspected and monitored by a lackadaisical political system, created and sold at minimal cost to consumers who are anonymous and replaceable. This book is a quick overview, product by product, crisis by crisis, of the current dangers in our industrial foods. -- Carolyn Smith-Morris, Ph.D., M.S., LPC, Associate Professor, Southern Methodist UniversityA great repository of facts for anyone who is concerned about food safety. It is a much needed outcry for transparency in our food production. -- Mark Post, MD, PhD, professor and chair of Physiology, Maastricht UniversityFoodborne illnesses and the quality of food production and preparation are major issues in the US. This is a must read for every parent and for anyone interested in their general health. The more knowledgeable we are, the more transparent and accountable the industry must become. The quality of our food should always be held to the highest standards and not allowed to continue to be a form of culinary Russian roulette. -- Bill Macatee, announcer for The NFL on CBS, US Open Tennis, GolfIn his carefully researched book, Charles M. Duncan comprehensively addresses hazards as they come with our daily food. Based on solid facts, figures, and references, he fascinatingly discusses nutritional safety and security across the board: from bioterrorism over food imports and genetically modified organisms to outbreaks of food-borne illnesses, and others. The book also includes honed criticism of the dispersion of responsibility an the U.S. system of government, as well as practical tips how to mitigate food-related risks in our everyday lives. This work is an excellent contribution to fostering homeland and civil security debates in an all-hazards context, as well as to increasing societal awareness and preparedness. -- Alexander Siedschlag, Ph.D, Professor and Chair of Homeland Security and Public Health Preparedness, The Pennsylvania State UniversityFor Americans, eating healthy may only be a challenge at the start of our daily routine. Finding a variety of safe, healthy, and available foods impacts the health of us all. As some of our everyday interactions have been marked with more invasiveness, Duncan brings questions food safety, trends in risk management with nutrition and concerns with the oversight needed to prevent food threats from natural hazards to terrorism. Information on eating safely may be a new top of the food pyramid. -- J. Eric Dietz, PhD, PE, Director, Purdue Homeland Security Institute and Professor, Computer and Information TechnologyCharles Duncan has provided a sobering, and potentially stomach-churning, look at the gaps in our food safety system. Controls on food imports are negligible, domestic controls are too lax, and food producers are taking short-cuts and risks that should alarm every consumer. -- Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO, The Humane Society of the United StatesA must read for policy makers and elected officials – while they are eating! Duncan documents one of the most important crises in America – the safety of our food. -- David A. Sterling, Ph.D., CIH, Professor and Chair Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, Director Doctoral PhD Program, School of Public Health, University of North Texas Health Science CenterA lot of the information Charles Duncan includes in Eat, Drink, & Be Wary, is scary as hell! However, by reading this book, we will all be better informed about the choices we made and the foods we eat. Thank you Charles and “BON APPETIT” ya’ll! -- Ruta Lee, Canadian actress, Hollywood, CACharles M. Duncan has assembled a significant amount of data on the problems with allowing uninspected and untested food products to enter the marketplace. Duncan outlines the major failures of the Government agencies in allowing healthy food to reach the tabletop. -- John Ubelaker, Ph.D., Southern Methodist UniversityEat, Drink, & Be Wary is a detailed examination of the failure of government oversight agencies to protect consumers from food companies that place profit above everything else. This failure of the agencies that are supposed to oversee the food industries leads to horrible cruelty to farm animals and a polluted food supply. You will cry and, if you have a dark sense of humor, you will laugh. My hope is that you will also be spurred to action. -- Bruce Friedrich, director, Farm SanctuaryTable of ContentsAcknowledgments Dedication Introduction 1: Bioterrorism, Cyber Attacks 2: Food Imports 3: Produce 4: Poultry 5: Eggs 6: Beef and Pork 7: Milk 8: Seafood 9: Deli Dangers 10: Outbreaks, Illnesses and Deaths 11: Food Fraud and Tampering 12: Foods We Eat, Others Won’t 13: Unwelcomed Critters in Our Foods 14: GMO – Genetically Modified Organisms 15: Generally Recognized as Safe 16: BPA – Bisphenol A 17: Cottage Food Industry and Your Kitchen 18: Restaurants 19: Government’s Report Card Epilogue: Sugar, A Legalized Recreational Drug

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Book SynopsisEach year, one out of every four hospital patients in the United States will be harmed by the care they receive. Over 400,000 will die as a result. Dr. Gretchen LeFever Watson's definitive guide empowers patients to be patient safety advocates. It takes a village to combat preventable errors and omissions that cause millions of deaths and sickness in our nation’s hospitals and care facilities. Although most of these deaths are due to human and system errors—not faulty medical decisions or diagnoses—this annual death toll—as well as the millions of additional incidents of survivable patient harm—could be cut in half through consistent use of simple and nearly cost-free safety behaviors. In Your Patient Safety Survival Guide, Gretchen LeFever Watson delivers a patient-centered blueprint on how to transform the patient-safety movement so that millions of unnecessary illnesses and deaths in hospitals, outpatient facilities, and nursing homes can be avoided. She provides key safety habits that people must learn to recognize so they can be sure hospital personnel use them during every patient encounter. She also explains how addressing the most common safety problems will set the stage for tackling a wide range of issues, including healthcare’s role in the overuse of opiate painkillers and its related heroin epidemic. Watson’s call for a more sensible societal response to medical and human error in hospitals promotes a timely and full disclosure of all mistakes—an approach that has been proven to accelerate the emotional recovery of everyone affected by patient safety events while also reducing the financial burden on hospitals, providers, and patients. Readers will learn how to: • Change behavior to catch medical errors before they result in illness or death. • Prevent the spread of dangerous infections in hospitals and other care facilities. • Leverage the power of basic safety/hygiene habits. • Eliminate mistakes during surgery and other invasive procedures. • Avoid medication errors and the overuse of opiates • Raise awareness and inspire civic action in their communities.Trade ReviewMore than 440,000 people die needlessly in American hospitals every year, making medical errors the third leading cause of death in the country. ... By giving patients the information and tools necessary to be their own advocates, Watson hopes to reduce errors and reestablish trusting relationships between patients and providers. This well-researched, eye-opening, and useful guide is an important addition to any health collection. * Booklist *Every patient wants safe health care, but it is hard to know how to get it. Your Patient Safety Survival Guide provides a useful action plan, including concrete steps and actual scripts that patients and families can use to become more effective advocates for their own safety. -- Albert W. Wu, MD, MPH, Professor and Director, Center for Health Services & Outcomes Research, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthAs a researcher on medication side effects, I have always been somewhat phobic of going into a hospital for care. Dr. Watson’s book convinces me my fears are not misplaced! Thankfully, her book offers a very readable guide on how to reduce my risk of medical injury from surgical error, medication error, or infection. This book is must reading for anyone anticipating a hospital stay for themselves or a family member. -- David Antonuccio, PhD, Diplomate in Clinical Psychology, ABPP; Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Nevada School of Medicine; Author of Butt Out: A Compassionate Guide to Helping Yourself Quit Smoking, With or Without a PartnerGretchen LeFever Watson has marshaled her agonizing personal experience and considerable professional expertise to write a compelling account of core issues in medical errors and patient safety. She has more or less abandoned hope that sufficient safety improvements will come from within health care itself, and believes that patients must at minimum partner with their providers to make care safer, medication by medication, surgery by surgery, step by step. She offers practical tips for patients to help avert the “trifecta,” or three most common types of errors: hospital acquired conditions, wrong-site surgeries and other “off the mark” procedures, and medication administration errors. Anyone who anticipates undergoing health care, or who cares for loved ones who do, should read this book. -- Susan Dentzer, President and Chief Executive Officer, NEHI (Network for Excellence in Health Innovation)Gretchen LeFever Watson has a background of organizing parents to take charge of health issues on a local basis. In this book she proposes to expand this idea to include patient safety. With the refreshing vigor of a citizen activist and the measured perspective of a healthcare professional, she lays forth a sensible yet ambitious plan for tackling some of the healthcare delivery system's most pressing issues. -- Helen Haskell, President, Mothers Against Medical Error

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Book SynopsisPatients, or those who are acting for them, (children, disabled, etc.), learn what should be done to protect them at every stage of healthcare throughout the entire life span from infancy through old age. The Rules begin with doctor selection and explain how patients, with no medical knowledge, should make difficult decisions. Here are some of the topics covered: -should I undergo surgery on the recommendation of my doctor? -When and how to obtain a “second opinion”. -If patient agrees to have surgery, how to “interview” your surgeon before making a final decision about proceeding with the operation. -How to assemble and use your “hospital kit” which will contain items essential to a safe and successful hospitalization. -How to organize and maintain your medical (including medication) records over many years. -Should you, or must you, use smart phones (with or without cameras), or computers to help with medical record keeping? -What to do in the last two weeks before hospitalization? -How to prepare for the day you enter the hospital? (Should you go alone or should you take a knowledgeable person to help with the reams of paperwork, signature requests, and oher nerve-wracking procedures? -Should you enter a hospital alone or arrange for a 24/7 “advocate”? -How hospital patients can protect themselves from the many dangers faced by all patients. -Where and how to safely buy medications: In or out of the U.S? By mail or personal visit to a pharmacy? -Financial and insurance issues involving your doctors, medical testing, and hospitalizations. -What to do if you are injured while you are a hospital patient or at your doctor’s office.

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Book SynopsisAccording to the US Geological Survey, there is a 100 percent chance of an earthquake today -- Are you ready for the big one? As earthquakes have struck around the world with alarming frequency, millions have realized they are unprepared for similar catastrophes close to home. Online disaster plans and older books--heavy with seismic science and a survivalist focus--leave the average reader overwhelmed with details and anxiety. How much water will I need? What if I'm driving? How do I protect my six-year-old? The questions go on--and in this book Maggie Mooney answers them. Her four-week readiness program includes straightforward instructions, forms, and checklists. Mooney explains what to expect during a quake, and what to do when the shaking stops. She also addresses both aftershocks and tsunamis. Use this guide and the checklists inside to get ready: * Find your safe spots at home, at work, at school, and outdoors. * Develop your emergency communication plan. * Mentally prepare yourself and your family. * Shake-proof your home. * Assemble an emergency kit. By following the steps in the four-week readiness program described here you can avoid injury and ensure you have the food, water and other essentials you need to be prepared rather than scared.Table of ContentsIntroduction 1 Earthquake Basics 2 Earthquake Psychology 3 Week1: Getting Started Before the Big One Strikes 4 Week 2: Preparing Yourself and Your Home 5 Week 3: Finding Safe Places 6 Week 4: Preparing to Stay Safe in Your Car and at Work 7 Beyond the Essentials: Earthquake-Proofing Your Home 8 During the Big One 9 After the Big One Conclusion

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Book SynopsisSince 1973, Storey's Country Wisdom Bulletins have offered practical, hands-on instructions designed to help readers master dozens of country living skills quickly and easily. There are now more than 170 titles in this series, and their remarkable popularity reflects the common desire of country and city dwellers alike to cultivate personal independence in everyday life.

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Book SynopsisEarthquakes strike with devastating force and often without warning. Approximately 41 US states are at risk of moderate to severe earthquakes, and amazingly, these states are located in every region of the country. Based on international protocols, Earthquake Survival focuses on what people can do before, during and after an earthquake to protect themselves and their property. Also included in each guide are smartphone QR codes that link to the websites of various emergency services agencies. Laminated for durability, this portable guide is an ideal source of quick and accurate information. Made in the USA.

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Book SynopsisSummer heat waves have become more frequent and increasingly intense over the past 20 years. In a normal year, about 175 Americans are killed by extreme heat. Among natural disasters, only extreme cold -- not hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, or earthquakes -- takes a greater toll. Based on international protocols, Extreme Heat Survival focuses on what people can do before, during and after a heat wave to protect themselves and their property. Also included in each guide are smartphone QR codes that link to the websites of various emergency services agencies. Laminated for durability, this portable guide is an ideal source of quick and accurate information. Made in the USA.

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Book SynopsisFloods are among the most costly and frequently occurring natural disasters. They strike virtually all areas of the country and can occur at any time of year following torrential rains. They are most common after spring thaw and following severe storms like hurricanes that peak August-October. Based on international protocols, Flood Survival focuses on what people can do before, during and after a flood to protect themselves and their property. Also included in each guide are smartphone QR codes that link to the websites of various emergency services agencies. Laminated for durability, this portable guide is an ideal source of quick and accurate information. Made in the USA.

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Book SynopsisExtreme cold is the most deadly natural disaster, killing hundreds each year. The National Weather Service refers to winter storms as the "Deceptive Killers" because most deaths are indirectly related to the storms and are caused primarily by hypothermia and traffic accidents. Based on international protocols, Extreme Cold Survival focuses on what people can do before, during and after a winter storm to protect themselves and their property. Also included in each guide are smartphone QR codes that link to the websites of various emergency services agencies. Laminated for durability, this portable guide is an ideal source of quick and accurate information. Made in the USA.

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Book SynopsisSpawned from powerful thunderstorms, tornadoes can cause fatalities and devastate a neighborhood in seconds. With more than 1,200 tornadoes striking the US each year, they cause billions of dollars worth of damage. Based on international protocols, Tornado Survival focuses on what people can do before, during and after a Tornado to protect themselves and their property. Also included in each guide are smartphone QR codes that link to the websites of various emergency services agencies. Laminated for durability, this portable guide is an ideal source of quick and accurate information. Made in the USA.

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Book SynopsisEvery year across our Nation, people lose their homes due to wildfires that often begin unnoticed. These fires are usually triggered by lightning or accidents and spread incredibly quickly, igniting brush, trees, and homes. Those homes fortunate enough to survive a wildfire, often do so because their owners were prepared. Based on international protocols, Wildfire Survival focuses on what people can do before, during and after a wildlife to protect themselves and their property. Also included in each guide are smartphone QR codes that link to the websites of various emergency services agencies. Laminated for durability, this portable guide is an ideal source of quick and accurate information. Made in the USA.

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Book SynopsisThings change, and as the world becomes more challenging, we need to take the time to prepare our children. Not in a threatening or scary way, but in a way that is fun, engaging, and will give them the best possible chance of ensuring their own wellbeing. Spotting Danger Before It Spots Your KIDS is a book about presenting the concepts of situational awareness to children (ages 5 - 12) in a way that will keep them engaged and help them take an active role in their own personal security. This book will show you how to use fun, interactive games to build situational awareness skills such as: How children can identify and understand normal environmental behaviors. How children can spot abnormal behaviors within their given environment. How to give children a plan and a means of avoidance or escape should a dangerous situation present itself. Whether you're a parent, relative, or work in the childcare industry, the things you impart upon children will have a lasting impact on the way they live their lives. Nowhere is this more important than in the area of personal safety. As caregivers, we have a great responsibility for the security and wellbeing of our children, and to guide them along the path to independence. Your child’s future success will depend on their ability to interact with their surroundings and make sound decisions based on what they see. That’s the foundation of situational awareness. Author Gary Quesenberry has spent nearly two decades working as a federal air marshal. The training methods outlined in this book are based on the lessons learned not only as a counter-terror agent but also as a father of three.Trade ReviewAWARDS WINNER—2022, Parenting and Family, Next Generation Indie Book Award GRAND PRIZE SHORT LIST—2022, Home: Parenting and Family, Eric Hoffer Awards FINALIST—2021, Parenting and Family, Best Book Awards "A brief, practical manual for parents and caregivers who want to help children identify and safely respond to dangerous situations. As the book goes on, readers are sure to gain confidence in their own ability to sensibly safeguard their young ones." — Kirkus Reviews "Exceptionally well written, comprehensively informative, impressively organized and presented, "Spotting Danger Before It Spots Your Kids: Teaching Situational Awareness To Keep Children Safe" is an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended addition to family and community library Parenting & Public Safety collections." —Midwest Reviews "Gary’s latest book, Spotting Danger Before It Spots Your Kids,is an amazing piece of work that can prepare your children for the unexpected dangers they may one-day face. Given that there is an epidemic of child sex trafficking right here in the United States, our children need to be educated about the importance of situational awareness, but parents and caregivers need to provide that education in a manner that won’t completely terrify them. This book does an incredible job of giving adults the tools they need to do just that. Gary sets forth lessons that instill the basics of situational awareness in a way that is fun and engaging for both adults and kids. If there is a child in your life who you care about, please read this book." —Craig Sawyer, founder of “Veterans for Child Rescue,” former Navy SEAL, DEVGRU sniper "Many parents today believe that protecting their children from the dangers inherent in our society means avoiding sensitive issues and keeping their children locked away in a protective bubble. Spotting Danger Before It Spots Your Kidsbreaks you out of this mindset and shows you what children need to know if they are to navigate the uncertainties of the modern world. This book is a must-read for all new parents and young adults going off to high school or away to college." —Joseph Koury, thirty-year veteran, Special Operations soldier "When parents, especially mothers, attend my trainings, the number-one question I get asked is, “How do I teach my kids situational awareness without scaring them?” After reading Gary’s book, I now have a resource I can recommend with complete confidence. Gary has taken all his knowledge and years of experience with the Federal Air Marshals and created a comprehensive and relatable step-by-step guide for building situational awareness skills in children. He shares stories of his own children’s quick thinking, as well as heroic tales of children who knew what to do in an emergency situation; these stories offer parents positive examples of the importance of building these skills. Gary expertly identifies age-appropriate games that can be played by anyone and explains how they build lifesaving skills in children. This book is a must-read for every parent!" —Kelly Sayre, founder and president of The Diamond Arrow Group, expert instructor in Situational Awareness Training for Women, EAP consultant "Spotting Danger Before It Spots Your Kidsis a must for all parents. Not only does Gary give you everything you need to keep your family safe, he imparts years’ worth of instructional experience. Gary shows you the tricks of the instructional trade and helps you relay this extremely important information. This book is not designed to instill fear. In fact, it will probably help the entire family to sleep better at night." —Billy Williams, supervisor, Counterterrorism and Explosives Training Section "As a former homicide and juvenile crimes detective sergeant, I can attest to the horrific dangers in the world we live in today. I know that if the victims of the crimes I investigated had had the tools contained in this book, they might still be alive. As a senior executive in law enforcement, I can confirm that there are grave dangers all around us. Most people are unaware of and often ill-equipped to survive these dangers. Gary is an expert in this field and teaches essential life-saving principles that are easy to learn and implement." —Dana Chong Tim, government executive, former homicide and juvenile crimes detective-sergeant "In this book, Gary applies his expertise on situational awareness to issues unique to children, and does it in a completely entertaining way. This will be your go-to guidebook for creating real security for your family." —Kelly D. Venden, retired Army Special Operations, federal law enforcement, owner of Criterion Tactical, LLC "Spotting Danger Before It Spots Your Kids: Teaching Children Situational Awareness to Stay Safe is one of those must-have parenting books. Gary Quesenberry is one of the premier experts in threat detection and situational awareness in the world. His vast experience makes him extremely qualified to offer his insights into any topic involving safety and security. He is also a proud husband and father who has put into practice the same techniques and methods while raising his own children. They are tested and proven. This is a fun and interactive book that helps kids figure out that they can have some level of control in their own lives and, more importantly, have the confidence that comes from knowing how to be safe and secure in any environment. It’s a must for every bookshelf in America." —Matt Cubbler, U.S. Army intelligence veteran, twenty-seven-year career law enforcement officer, former Special Agent with the U.S. Federal Air Marshal Service,author, speaker, host of the “Two Dates and a Dash Podcast” "I teach situational awareness, firearms courses, and instructor-level courses. I thought I was doing a pretty good job of passing on situational awareness skills to my children and grandchildren, but after reading this book, I have learned some things to up my game. This is an excellent resource for parents and grandparents to help kids learn to be more situationally aware, listen to their gut instinct, be wise to the mood of their environment, and plan ahead for when things don’t turn out to be all rainbows and unicorns. Plan on reading this book more than once because it is packed with great information!" —Dawn Dolpp, certified firearms instructor and training counselor "This second book in Gary’s situational awareness series is must-read primer for all parents who want to keep their children safe in the dangerous world we live in. Purchase this book, and you will learn from one of the best." —Maureen Sangiorgio, award-winning writer, NRA-certified firearms instructor/RSO "This book is truly eye opening! I deeply admire Gary’s openness and honesty in sharing his family’s own personal security scare. His story about having someone threaten his family’s safety while he was away serving our country as the tip of the spear for Homeland Security operations really connected with me as a retired law enforcement officer. It clearly illustrated the all-too-common tendency to switch on our heightened awareness when needed and inadvertently switch it off when we are home with our loved ones. This book will make every parent take a step back and see the bigger picture and how it affects their family. I was a big fan of Gary’s first book in this series, and this second book should be required reading for any parent out there." —Trampas Swanson, firearms instructor/training counselor, deputy editor of Private Military Contractor International magazine, retired law enforcement officer Table of ContentsACKNOWLEDGMENTS FOREWORD INTRODUCTION PHASE ONE: What parents need to know Chapter 1: The parent’s role The basics of awareness The pros and cons of technology Avoid teaching fear Kids in action: Landon Clemmer saves his mom Practical exercise Key points Chapter 2: How children learn new tasks Kids in action: TJ Smith stops a kidnapping Practical exercise Key points PHASE TWO: What kids need to know Chapter 3: Teaching the basics Kids in action: Braydon Smith stops a home invasion Practical exercise Key points Chapter 4: Game night – Building a foundation for awareness Kids in action: Eyas Tran saves his neighbor Practical exercise Key points PHASE THREE: Teaching and reinforcing the specific aspects of situational awareness Chapter 5: Situational awareness for children Understanding normal behaviors Spotting abnormal behaviors Creating a plan Taking action Kids in action: Dylan Paul saves his teacher Practical exercise Key points Chapter 6: Give your children options Communication Avoidance Escape Confrontation Kids in action: Little Roman rescues his mom Practical exercise Key points Chapter 7: Common encounters Kids in action: CJ Saulsgiver performs CPR Practical exercise Key points Chapter 8: The “what if game” – Putting it all together Kids in action: Virgil Smith rescues his neighbors Practical exercise Key points Chapter 9: Working together Kids in action: Lexi Shymanski saves the day Practical exercise Key points CONCLUSION APPENDIX: Situational awareness checklist BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX

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