INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana House Education Committee will hear testimony on Wednesday, March 22, in support of legislation that would ensure operating AEDs are present at athletic facilities.
Senate Bill 369 would require anyone overseeing or supervising an activity at the facility would be informed of the location of the AED by the school or event personnel and would also ensure every venue has a specific emergency action plan when sudden cardiac arrest occurs.
The legislation passed the Senate unanimously last year and this year; this is the first year it is receiving a hearing in the House.
Lawmakers are referring to the legislation as “Jake’s Law” in honor of Jake West, who died in 2013 at the age of 17 after suffering sudden cardiac arrest at football practice in LaPorte.
“Losing a child is every parent’s nightmare. Jake would be 27 this year,” said Julie West, Jake’s mom, who will testify at the hearing. “I know installing AEDs might not save every young athlete who suffers sudden cardiac arrest at school, but saving just one life – knowing that another family could be spared the pain we have endured – would make this fight worth it.”
Sudden cardiac death (SCA) is the leading cause of death in the U.S., taking the lives of 356,000 people annually; it is the number one killer of student-athletes and the leading cause of death on school campuses.
The following individuals are scheduled to testify in support of Jake’s Law today:
Tonya Aerts: Biomedical Teacher at New Prairie High School; HOSA Club advisor who led New Prairie School Corp to receive Indiana’s first designation as a Project Adam heart safe school.
John Doherty: Vice President of Therapy Services, Sports Medicine, & Occupational Health for the Community Foundation of Northwest Indiana. He also serves on the Munster School Board.
Adam C. Kean, MD, MPH, FHRS: Riley Pediatric Cardiology. Riley Hospital is the first Indiana affiliate of Project Adam; Project ADAM Indiana is committed to assisting schools in becoming a Heart Safe Schools by providing tools, resources, and guidance to minimize the risk of sudden cardiac death. Assistance is provided through school consultation delivering one-on-one support from initial discussion through each designation as a Heart Safe school.
Laneia Strasser: Mother of Drew Strasser, who survived SCA at tennis practice at Rochester High School.
Drew Strasser: 19-year-old survivor of sudden cardiac arrest due to the quick response of his teammate and coach and the presence of an AED.
Julie West: Mother of Jake West, who did not survive SCA on the football field at LaPorte High School. Julie founded the Play for Jake Foundation.
