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By Dan Limmer

My association with the Emergency Care EMT textbook is long and passionate. When I was too young to take an EMT class, I was in a Red Cross Advanced First Aid class next door to an EMT class at the University at Albany. I met the EMT instructor and asked if he had an extra book. He sold me his copy of the 1st edition of Emergency Care.

I took my EMT class a few years later using the 2nd edition of Emergency Care.

Fast forward 10 or so years. Brady needed help with the 6th edition of Emergency Care. I’d sent a proposal to Brady to write a scene safety and survival book for them (never wrote that book) so I was on their radar screen. I began by writing the “Street Scenes” feature for every chapter and eventually revised more than 25% of that edition.

The early 1990s brought some big changes to EMS with the EMT-B curriculum. A new author team of me, Mike O’Keefe and Ed Dickinson were brought onboard to write the new edition. We’ve been doing it ever since, including the 2009 change to education standards.

There have been a lot of changes in the nearly 30 years I’ve been writing. Brady’s parent companies have changed quite a few times. I’ve seen a lot of amazing editors come and go. The transition to electronic processes and products has had its fits and starts over the years. The one thing that is consistent is the importance of solid educational products for EMS providers and the passion involved in EMS. Passion in the students learning, passion in the educators and passion in writing the Emergency Care you see today.

I’d be remiss in not mentioning the groundbreaking work by Harvey Grant and Bob Murray.  J. David Bergeron came on the project in subsequent early editions. I am in awe of these pioneering individuals who pitched an idea to the Robert J. Brady publishing company so long ago. That pitch turned into a legacy I am very proud to continue.

covers of emergency care ed. 1 and 13

I’ll be sharing quite a bit more from the early editions of Emergency Care but today I’ll share the covers of the 1st and 13th edition. I am known at Brady for my fanaticism about maintaining the yellow color in the Emergency Care cover. Many still know it as “The Brady Book” and “The Yellow Book,” and under my watch that won’t change.

I find it comforting that the covers bear significant similarity in their color and repeating patterns. The first edition highlighted symbols of the public safety community and the 13th features the human beings who wear those symbols.

I look forward to sharing more of the Emergency Care history with you. From it we will see our evolution of both clinical medicine and the ideals that have made us what we are today.

Do you have any Emergency Care memories or photos you would like to share?

Join the discussion 3 Comments

  • Tim Veneck says:

    This was my first text. I started in the ambulance in 1978. now 43 years later I have decided not to renew my CA EMT. It has been a long and fulfilling career. From EMT attendant to Driver, Dispatcher, Supervisor, Driver Trainer, Manager. To all the patients I have helped I’m glade I could. When I first started out AND older EMT told me something to be very true. He said “You never remember the ones you save, and you never forget the one you loose”. I feel I did the best I could, It was your book the got me started.
    Thank you,
    Timothy G. Veneck, E.M.T.
    California

  • Dan Limmer says:

    Tim–it was so great to see your note. Our paths paralleled for some of those times. I started as a junior member of a volunteer squad in upstate NY in 1978, took first aid, eventually EMT and then paramedic. I wouldn’t go back and change anything–especially in those early years,

    I hear many things between the words of your message. Making the decision not to renew must have been difficult. Your note continues on and tells the depths of the experiences we have had during our times in EMS–things both good and bad.

    My best to you in the next chapters in your life. You may not have the EMT certification as you go forward, but no one can take the experiences and the pride you feel.

    Stay safe and take good care.
    Dan

  • Timothy G Veneck says:

    Dan a update as of April 2021. I decided to re-up my EMT. Just cant stay away I’m leaving my security of and starting with a company called On Site Health and Safety. Its good to be going back to EMS into Health and safety. I’m looking forward to starting , Just goes to show you can go back if you want to, even at 65.

    Tim Veneck, E.M.T. 🙂

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