Bear Care Medical
Event First Aid Services and Medical Staffing SpecialistsBEAR CARE
Providing PeaCE OF mIND SINCE 2013
PEACE OF MIND
Bear Care provides immediate, skilled, and compassionate emergency care in a calm, supportive, and non-judgmental environment
Rhythm and Rescue: The Festie First Responder’s Blog
Dispatches from the front lines
What’s in your jump bag?
Folks often ask me what they should include in their jump bag. While the answer is usually "It depends on your situation," I thought I would share what I have outfitted my personal bag with. Putting together a first-aid kit for a weekend getaway might differ greatly...
Maryland Cannabis Legalization Fest
On July 1, 2023, a new law went into effect in Maryland that legalized the recreational use of cannabis, in addition to medicinal use which had already been legalized there. Our friends at Apple Mountain Productions threw a little party on their land in Little...
Wolfie’s 2023: Reuniting old family and welcoming new friends
L-R: Kelly, Sarah, Tracy, Beth, Brandon, Alex and Wendi (Not pictured, Nick) rounded out the Bear Care team at Wolfie's '23 Weekend At Wolfie's is one of my favorite events of the year. The small crowd is composed of die-hard Bumpin' Uglies fans (a group called...
What We Do
Our staffers form a unique and essential link in the chain of care for participants at your event. From treating a blister to providing cool-off space in our “Zen Zones” for substance abuse issues, we bring a holistic approach to the provision of event first aid services in the unique environment of mass gatherings. This includes not only caring for those in need at your event, but actively interfacing with local EMS to prevent unneeded activation of those resources.
Because we are EMS professionals, the unique relationship we have with local emergency providers ensures the speedy and cooperative transfer of a seriously ill or injured person to a higher level of medical care when the situation warrants.
TESTIMONIALS
The dedicated professionals who provide Bear Care’s Event First Aid Services are veterans of the music festival industry and take pride in offering our clients the assurance that the site’s medical operations are effortlessly taken care of. See what some of our clients have to say about working with us!
“Bear Care, thank you for helping everyone and keeping them safe and hydrated. You guys are unsung heroes and i know many people who are grateful for your amazing team, me included. You guys are helpful and compassionate and you truly put your heart and soul into all of this. ”
“The Bear Care staff provided us with more than just a knowledgeable, professional, and experienced medical team. They gave us peace of mind. In addition to quick response times they remained cool headed in the most extreme circumstances. I highly recommend the Bear Care medical team to anyone planning events and festivals. “
“We were truly blessed to have Bear Care work at Camp Barefoot this year. We have worked with other providers in the past, and Bear Care tops them all, for professionalism, super friendly staff, and experience. They worked with local authorities to make our festival the safest and smoothest in our 8 years of existence. The Bear Care staff are top-notch, clear-headed, and take control. Bear Care instills in us such a sense of comfort and trust, which is very valuable to a festival promoter.”
“Bear Care is perhaps the finest group of event EMS professionals I have dealt with. They are professional but lighthearted enough to deal with any situation that comes their way. They understand the ever-changing environment of today’s music festivals and adapt to each situation accordingly. They establish a rapport with festival-goers and create an environment of trust, fostering the ability to deal with situations that would generally go awry if left in the hands of a typical EMS unit. Not only are these the right people for the job, they are also affordable!”
Bear Care Press Coverage
Bear Care History
Bear Care founders Jim Bartlett and Alex Russell met in 2013 when Alex joined the Fredericksburg Rescue Squad, where Jim was a Lieutenant and an EMS instructor.
Alex was a veteran of the festival world, having worked in various positions in event administration and management over the years. His resume included supervisory roles at events such as: All Good, the Baltimore Grand Prix, Camp Barefoot, the Foxfield Races, The Festy Experience, Brew Ridge Trail Festival, The Mantrabash, and Sharps Sessions.
Alex mentioned to Jim that he met a team of medics from Jamcare at a festival and what an interesting idea that would be — to travel around to festivals and provide emergency medical and event first aid services. Jim loved the idea, and Bear Care Medical was created.
Jim and Alex spent a year doing research and working for other companies to learn as much as they could about the logistics of providing event first aid services, and to get a feel for how it is done. In 2014 after Alex graduated EMT school, Bear Care worked its first official gig at Camp Barefoot 8.
In 2018, Jim was called away to serve full-time as a wildland firefighter for the US Forestry Service in California and left the company. Although he still comes back occasionally to volunteer! Since then, Alex has added new members to Bear Care’s management team, who serve as the primary operations officers, along with a solid group of EMTs, doctors, nurses, PAs, WFRs, and volunteer attendants, who are committed to Bear Care’s mission of providing kind, compassionate and skilled event first aid services to our festival family. See more about Bear Care’s Event First Aid Management team.
Meet the Team
Alex Russell
EMT-B
CEO
Jim Bartlett
EMT-A
President Emeritus
Wendi "Mama Bear"
EMT-B
Site Lead / Incident Commander
Angie Schroeder
LPN
Site Lead / Incident Commander