The Minutes Matter Project
Helping bystanders stop blood loss and save lives
Did you know?
A person can bleed to death in as little as 3 to 5 minutes.
Most people don't know that. They assume there's time —
time to call 911, time to wait, time for help to arrive.
But in rural areas like the Mendocino coast, EMS response can take 20 minutes or more.
That gap is the whole reason this project exists.
Who we are
The Minutes Matter Project is a Mendocino County nonprofit founded by a local ER nurse, Chloe, and her husband, James, an avid surfer and beloved high school English teacher. We're a small, community-rooted team working to make sure help is never too far away, even in the most remote corners of our coastline.
Our Mission
The Minutes Matter Project equips Mendocino County beaches with public-access bleeding control kits, empowering bystanders to stop life-threatening bleeding in the critical minutes before help arrives.
Serious injuries can happen anywhere on the Mendocino coast — on a hiking trail, at the beach, out on the water — often in places where help is 30 minutes away. In those moments, the person closest to the injury has the power to save a life, long before an ambulance can arrive.
The kits are simple and easy to understand, no medical background is required. With the right supplies and a little confidence, anyone can stop a bleed and save a life.