Dr Campbell Mackenzie RD FRCP (Edin) is a retired Surgeon Commander, having served in the Royal Navy and Royal Naval Reserve. He has sailed all his life, and is an instructor and examiner for the RYA First Aid course and an advisor, instructor and examiner on medical aspects of yachting to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

Dr Spike Briggs BSc FRCA is a consultant in Intensive Care Medicine and Anesthesia, and was medical advisor/fleet medical officer to the Challenge Business. He currently advises on medical support and crew selection for ocean yacht races.

The Skipper's Medical Emergency Handbook is designed to assist all who go to sea - whether on a day excursion, a holiday cruise or an even longer trip. It will provide practical advice, boost confidence, solve problems and minimise danger for all on board.

Step-by-step instructions, explanatory illustrations and flow charts provide an at-a-glance reference on how to prevent, treat and care for the sick and injured at sea. And there is advice on pre-voyage preparations, establishing emergency procedures, first response and assessment of illnesses and injury, right through to offshore aftercare and recovery. The Skipper's Medical Emergency Handbook is a comprehensive and practical resource for novices or experienced sailors and motorboaters.

If you only take one medical handbook on board, make it this one. It has been carefully thought through and is presented logically in an at-a-glance format that would be quick and easy to use in a crisis, with plenty of diagrams and flow charts to help.