2012 ERRORS FIXED
Our first priority was to fix the errors reported in the previous edition. Our errata review resulted in 317 verified errata – some minor and some major, but all examined in an extensive process with expert review and adjudication by faculty. This process prompted us to revert many of the “errata” previously published on the errata list, and so the penultimate 2012 errata list is being published on our website, www.firstaidteam.com. Yet even with this rigorous review process, there will be passages that evoke passionate disagreement among students and even among faculty. As always, we welcome your feedback.
CONTENT CLARIFICATIONS
Our errata review also revealed many comments that challenged us to clarify, simplify, or otherwise improve the material to avoid confusion in complex or ambiguous factual areas. While a word count alone is only one way to judge a revision, a quick comparison below shows the extent to which we have expanded the text and, importantly, the index in the new edition. The vast majority of the 10,000+ new words are clarifications and rewrites of existing entries that were potential sources of confusion with other review books, test banks, and web resources. 
- Based on student feedback and surveyed preferences, the embryology content has been incorporated into the relevant major organ systems chapters
- Many entries have been merged, grouped, or consolidated (e.g., pp. 417, 429)
- The dermatology section (pp. 395-403) includes 59 new color images
- The Rapid Review section is better “synchronized” with underlying high-yield material covered within the book
- The index has been fully redone with the assistance of a medical indexer and medical students who gave feedback on each index entry
- The test preparation material in Section I is updated and expanded, with additional advice for IMGs and DO students
DESIGN AND LAYOUT CHANGES
- Entry formats are extensively redesigned, to better separate headings from content and to aid in grouping related material logically
- Mnemonics are colorized and bolded to clarify associations and memory hooks
- Entries requiring more than 1 page are on a 2-page spread for convenience
- Selected illustrations were redesigned and colorized in a new First Aid style, to aid in visual clarity (e.g., pp. 71, 106, 314, 478)
In the end, real-world student experience with the book will determine the success or relative value of a revision. We offer this summary so that students may appreciate the extent of the changes in the 2013 edition, many of which may not be immediately apparent.
The Editors of First Aid