A person carrying a surfboard on a sandy beach during sunset, with footprints in the sand, dogs playing near the shoreline, and cliffs with trees in the background.

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.

James and Chloe, the founders of the non-profit
James and Chloe, the founders of the non-profit

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

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 Minutes Matter Project places bleeding control kits at the most highly trafficked beaches on the Mendocino Coast. Our kits are simple and easy to understand — no medical background required. With the right supplies and a little confidence, anyone can stop a bleed and save a life.