Personally, we would love to see a “Survival For Dummies” out there and, for all we know, there is such a book. However, if you really want the best of the best information check out the publications below.

* First Aid for the USMLE Step 1: A Student to Student Guide
If you’re looking for a first aid book that’s so on point students who are getting ready to take the United States Medical Licensing Examination will be using it – this is your book. This book tops the list of best sellers in the field of first aid, not just because of how many positive reviews it has (quite a lot if you take into consideration how many editions of the book there are), but because it’s the go-to guide for those who are actually trying to get their medical license in the United States. Higher accolades needed? I think not.
* Emergency Care
Another standard EMT training book. Excellent because it meets the CPR and ECC Guidelines of 2010: so you know it’s a resource you can trust. The book’s goal is to get emergency medical technician students to think like EMTs.
* Special Operations Forces Medical Handbook
This one had to show up on our list. Straight from the Department of Defense, it’s a must-have for preppers and survivalists who keep a few hard copies of books on them just in case. Highly recommended to have around for obvious reasons.
*  Living Ready Pocket Manual – First Aid: Fundamentals for Survival
Another disaster and SHTF oriented first aid manual for survivalists who would like to know how to stay as healthy as they can in times that are not easy.
* Wilderness Medicine: Beyond First Aid
If you’re planning on bugging out, this is the book for you. The books description gets right to the point when it suggests this book is about “recognition, treatment, and prevention of wilderness emergencies.” Just what outdoor/wilderness survivalists need to learn: plain and simple
* The Prepper Pages: A Surgeon’s Guide to Scavenging Items for a Medical Kit, and Putting Them to Use While Bugging Out
Again – another book oriented toward the survivalists out there who are planning for TEOTWAWKI situations rather than just small emergency situations. For those who are more interested in surgery in these bad environments, and not just basic first aid and medicine.
* American Red Cross First Aid/CPR/AED Participant’s Manual
Another American Red Cross book, this time specifically for those participating in the First Aid/CPR/AED programs and trying to pass to get their certification. Again – just another book I’d want to have around to keep handy.
* First Aid for Children: A Parents Illustrated Guide to Complete Medical Care of Your Children
The best way to stay prepared is to know in advance what to do in a bad situation. If you’re a parent to a young child, injuries and medical problems surfacing are likely to make your heart race. Stay educated. Know what to do. It will help both your stress levels and their health.
* EMT-Basic Review Manual For National Certification
For the more advanced first aider who wants to test him or herself, this book is excellent. Skill based and multiple choice questions make this book an easy pick for when you’ve devoured all the knowledge you can and want to figure out how much of it has stuck.
* Harrison’s Manual of Medicine: 19th Edition
This book being up to its 19th edition in 2016 is high accolades enough. The Harrison’s Manual of Medicine is an authority mini-textbook in the first aid and medical field.

Of course, if you read everything you get your hands on it leaves little room for the actual preparation. Still, it is important to keep some key books around, informative pages you can use as guidelines and, if we are lucky, explaining medications to those of us whose medical knowledge is limited to taking Extra Strength Tylenol for headaches.

There are more books to look into and you can check them out on More Than Just Surviving.