Book review: Oxford Manual of Major Incident Management

Oxford Manual of Major Incident Management

Paul Hunt and Ian Greaves | Oxford University Press | £34.99 |480pp | ISBN: 978019923808

This book will appeal to a wide range of personnel, including nurses involved in major incident management, as well as those who wish to gain greater knowledge of the theory and multi-agency responsibilities. 

It has a clear, didactic style with diagrams and pictures where appropriate.The authors have attempted to cover the spectrum of emergency preparedness, resilience and response in a logical order.

They also cover the psychological aspects of major incidents and dealing with the media.

For hospital staff, the book provides an insight into the pre-hospital phase, including the responsibilities of relevant agencies, services and individuals, as well as casualty and scene medical management.

For staff in pre-hospital settings, it provides detail of the hospital response and recovery phase.

Appendices include useful further reading, websites, and discussion of religious and cultural issues.

One minor criticism of the book is its small typeface – a larger size would make it more user friendly.

The book is reasonably priced and will no doubt appear on the shelves of many universities, but is recommended especially for anyone interested in developing their knowledge of major incident management.

Reviewed by Linsey Sheerin, clinical coordinator, Royal Victoria Hospital Belfast