cover image Cuando No Hay Tiempo Que Perder: El Unico Medico del Senado Revela Todo Lo Que Hay Que Saber Sobre El Bioterrorismo = When Every Moment Counts

Cuando No Hay Tiempo Que Perder: El Unico Medico del Senado Revela Todo Lo Que Hay Que Saber Sobre El Bioterrorismo = When Every Moment Counts

Bill Frist, William H. Frist, M. D. Frist. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., $16.95 (240pp) ISBN 978-0-7425-2247-3

As the horrors of September 11, 2001, and the anthrax-contaminated mail brought home the distant threats of terrorism, many Americans felt apprehensive and misinformed about the meaning of these perils and their capacity to control them. Senator Frist (R-TN), the first practicing physician to become a U.S. senator since 1928, has put together a straightforward, reassuring, and practical guide to coping with potential biohazards such as anthrax, smallpox, botulism, and ebola. First published in English last March, the book uses a Q&A format to present up-to-date and reliable information on these major biological agents, their symptoms, vaccines, and effective treatments. Practical suggestions, from choosing and preparing a disaster supply kit to easing children's anxieties, are well covered. Frist also examines the dangers posed by chemical weapons and the current threats to our food and water supplies, and offers historical background on the nuclear and biological threats that have haunted America in recent years. Although his tone is mostly optimistic, Frist is critical of government efforts to combat bioterrorism and the lack of communication between the doctors and health agencies. With a useful list of reliable websites and graphic photographs of organisms and skin rashes, this solid reference guide will help all Americans to react quickly and efficiently in case of a bioterrorist attack. Short of that, it will provide clear reference for those worried about that tragic possibility. Highly recommended for public libraries and bookstores. Jose O. Diaz, Ohio State Univ. Lib., Columbus