Whether switching on the TV, picking up a newspaper or simply logging on to the internet, one is constantly faced with images of natural disasters, conflict and human suffering. Humanity has experienced these problems throughout time and we have evolved methods and mechanisms for alleviating suffering, from trauma care following a traffic accident to international pacts and the Millennium Development Goals.

In exploring such diverse cases of aid intervention, Disaster Medicine: A Case Based Approach provides interesting, easily accessible content and context for understanding...