Building Safer Schools. Preparing to Save Lives.
The First Minute Project continues to make meaningful progress toward our mission of equipping every classroom with lifesaving bleeding-control supplies and ensuring every teacher and school staff member is trained to respond to life-threatening bleeding emergencies.
Throughout October, we advanced school partnerships, expanded our outreach, strengthened our legislative efforts, and created new opportunities for individuals and businesses to support our mission.
Here are the latest updates from The First Minute Project.
Expanding Lifesaving Training Across Colorado
Five Schools. One Mission. Countless Lives That Could Be Saved.
We are excited to announce significant progress in expanding our lifesaving bleeding-control program to schools throughout Colorado.
The First Minute Project is currently scheduled to bring our program to five schools simultaneously in early January 2027. This expansion will include all schools within the Conifer articulation area, as well as schools in the Evergreen area.
Our program is designed to ensure that school staff have the knowledge, training, and equipment necessary to respond to catastrophic bleeding emergencies when immediate access to emergency medical services may be limited.
Our goal remains straightforward:
Equip every classroom with lifesaving bleeding-control supplies.
Train every teacher and school staff member to respond to life-threatening bleeding.
Provide all training and equipment to participating schools at no cost.
This expansion represents an important step toward making our mission a reality for more students, teachers, and school communities.
Building Partnerships With Jeffco Public Schools
Advancing School Safety Through Collaboration
On October 7, The First Minute Project held a productive meeting with Jeffco Public Schools to discuss bringing our bleeding-control training and equipment program to schools throughout the district.
We are currently working toward a partnership agreement that would allow us to expand access to lifesaving training and classroom equipment.
We believe meaningful improvements in school safety are achieved through collaboration between school districts, educators, emergency medical professionals, and community organizations.
We are encouraged by the progress being made and look forward to continuing these discussions as we work toward expanding our program.
Legislative Advocacy: Advancing The First Minute Act
Creating New Funding Opportunities for School Safety
The First Minute Project has helped develop a final draft of The First Minute Act, legislation intended to establish grant funding opportunities for school districts seeking to purchase bleeding-control supplies and support related training.
This legislative effort is being undertaken in partnership with a U.S. Representative, with the goal of advancing the proposal for congressional consideration.
Our vision is to help remove financial barriers that prevent schools from implementing essential emergency preparedness programs.
By creating additional funding opportunities, we hope to help school districts equip classrooms, train staff, and strengthen their ability to respond when a medical emergency occurs.
The First Minute Act represents an important step in our broader effort to make lifesaving preparedness accessible to schools across the country.
The First Minute Project Featured in School Security Leadership
Bringing Our Mission to the National School Safety Community (NCSSD)
We are proud to announce that The First Minute Project was recently featured in a Q&A published by School Security Leadership, a publication of the National Council of School Safety Directors (NCSSD). In addition to this recognition, The First Minute Project has also partnered with NCSSD, strengthening our connection to the national school safety community and our shared commitment to protecting students and school communities.
The publication reached out to discuss our mission, our work at Conifer High School, and the critical role bleeding-control training and equipment play in school emergency preparedness.
The feature explores why bleeding-control supplies belong in every classroom, why school staff should be trained to use them, and how schools can prepare to provide lifesaving care when emergency responders cannot immediately reach an injured person.
Our work at Conifer High School demonstrates what is possible when a community comes together to improve school safety. We have helped train more than 60 staff members and raise funds to equip classrooms with lifesaving supplies.
We are grateful for the opportunity to share our mission with the broader school safety community and to partner with NCSSD as we work to advance awareness, preparedness, and access to lifesaving bleeding-control training and equipment.
Read the full Q&A:
Learn More about NCSSD:
https://www.ncssd.org/ncssd-home
Expanding Our Reach Through Benevity
Making It Easier to Support Our Mission
The First Minute Project is now available on Benevity, a leading workplace giving and corporate social responsibility platform.
This exciting development provides another way for individuals and businesses to support our mission through workplace charitable giving programs.
If your employer offers charitable donations through Benevity, you may now be able to contribute directly to The First Minute Project through your company's giving platform.
We encourage supporters to check with their employers to learn whether workplace giving opportunities are available.
Every contribution helps us move closer to our goal of equipping classrooms across America with lifesaving bleeding-control supplies and training school staff to respond when every second counts.
Learn more about Benevity:
Learn more about our mission:
https://www.firstminuteproject.org
Colorado Gives Day: Early Giving Begins November 1
Help Us Equip More Classrooms With Lifesaving Supplies
Colorado Gives Day early giving begins November 1, providing an important opportunity to support The First Minute Project and help expand our impact.
Donations made through December 8 may be eligible to benefit from the Colorado Gives Day Incentive Fund, which helps increase the impact of charitable contributions.
Additionally, new monthly donations may qualify for a match of up to $100 on the first monthly gift, while matching funds remain available. Eligibility and matching amounts are subject to the program's terms.
Every donation helps provide lifesaving bleeding-control supplies and training to schools at no cost.
Your support allows us to continue expanding our program, reaching more schools, and preparing more teachers and staff members to respond to life-threatening emergencies.
Make your Colorado Gives Day contribution:
https://www.coloradogives.org/.../The-First-Minute-Project
Or donate directly through our website:
https://www.firstminuteproject.org/donate
Community Partnerships: Calling on Local Businesses
Help Us Make Our Schools Safer
The First Minute Project is seeking partnerships with local businesses that want to make a meaningful difference in their communities.
Our mission depends on the support of individuals, organizations, and businesses that recognize the importance of preparing schools for life-threatening emergencies.
We are inviting businesses to partner with us in raising funds for lifesaving classroom equipment and training.
In return, we would be proud to recognize participating businesses and share with the community how they are helping protect local students and strengthen school safety.
These partnerships provide an opportunity for businesses to support a meaningful charitable mission while demonstrating their commitment to the communities they serve.
The First Minute Project is a federally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and a registered Colorado charitable organization.
Businesses interested in making The First Minute Project their preferred charitable organization this year are encouraged to contact us.
Contact us to discuss a partnership:
Email: contactus@firstminuteproject.org
Phone: (303) 928-9962
Donations can also be made through Colorado Gives or directly through our website.
A Reminder of Why Our Mission Matters
Preparing for the Moments When Every Second Counts
The tragic school shooting in Bend, Oregon, served as another devastating reminder of the dangers our schools face.
Our hearts are with the victims, their families, and everyone affected by this tragedy.
While no training program or piece of equipment can prevent every tragedy, preparation can make a critical difference when someone suffers a life-threatening injury.
When catastrophic bleeding occurs, immediate action matters. In a lockdown situation, emergency responders may be unable to reach injured individuals for an extended period of time.
In those critical moments, a trained teacher or staff member with the right equipment could help save a life.
This is why The First Minute Project exists.
Our mission is to ensure that:
Every classroom has access to bleeding-control supplies.
Every teacher and school staff member has the opportunity to receive lifesaving training.
Schools can implement this essential preparedness program at no cost.
We have already seen the impact of this work in our own community. Now, we are working to expand that impact throughout Colorado and beyond.
Every child deserves a school prepared to respond when the unthinkable happens.
Red the full PBS Story Here:
Looking Ahead
October has been an important month for The First Minute Project. From advancing school partnerships and preparing for our January training expansion to developing legislation and creating new opportunities for charitable support, we continue to build momentum.
Our mission is growing, and so is the community of people who believe that lifesaving preparedness should be available in every classroom.
We are grateful to the educators, first responders, volunteers, donors, business partners, and community members who continue to support this work.
Together, we can help ensure that when the first minute matters most, someone is ready.
The First Minute Project
Train Every Teacher. Equip Every Classroom. Save Lives.
