Bandages & Brews: Evaluation of an Open-Access Community Wilderness Medicine Education Intervention

Introduction Outdoor recreation in the Pacific Northwest frequently exposes individuals to wilderness environments where delays to definitive care can increase morbidity and mortality. Limited access to formal wilderness medicine training may contribute to preventable emergencies. We developed Bandages & Brews, a free community-based wilderness medicine event designed to improve preparedness among recreational participants. Methods Bandages & Brews was held in Portland, Oregon, in March 2026. Participants rotated through four hands-on stations: first aid kits and trail logistics, splinting, bleeding control, and head injury assessment. Curriculum was based on Wilderness Medical Society guidelines, International Commission for Alpine Rescue recommendations, and Auerbach’s Wilderness Medicine. Outcomes were assessed using retrospective pre-post surveys, objective skill assessments, and 60-day follow-up surveys. Results More than 50 individuals attended; 35 completed retrospective pre-post surveys and 24 completed 60-day follow-up. Participants demonstrated significant improvements across all confidence domains ( p < 0.001), with the largest gains in splinting and hemorrhage control. Preparedness behaviors, including carrying first aid supplies and emergency communication devices, also improved significantly. Most improvements were sustained at 60 days, with additional gains in confidence regarding head injury assessment and evacuation decisions. Confidence moderately correlated with objective performance (rho = 0.433, p = 0.083). Participants universally reported positive experiences. Conclusions Bandages & Brews is a feasible, low-barrier model for community wilderness medicine education associated with sustained improvements in confidence and preparedness behaviors. Community-based experiential programs may represent an underutilized public health approach to promoting safer outdoor recreation.