Each year, more than 500,000 women worldwide die from complications of pregnancy and childbirth - one every minute. Many more survive but will suffer ill health and disability as a result of these complications. At least eighty per cent of deaths result from five complications that are well understood and can be readily treated using medical and surgical interventions that are relatively inexpensive. The Life Saving Skills Manual accompanies the Life Saving Skills - Essential Obstetric Care and Newborn Care course, which is structured around the leading causes of maternal mortality and the delivery of basic and comprehensive emergency obstetric care. It is intended for use by all healthcare providers who mainly work in resource-poor settings, trying to save lives in sometimes very difficult situations, including midwives, clinical officers, medical assistants and doctors.