INDIANAPOLIS — A new law, now in effect, requires all Indiana schools to have automated external defibrillators at sporting, band, drama and other events. On Tuesday, Gov. Mike Braun held a ceremonial signing ceremony.
“I have such a sense of relief,” said Julie West, a mother advocating for AED requirements. "I have a lot of joy today because of this ceremony."
West started pushing for AEDs in schools following the 2013 death of her son, Jake. In 2023, lawmakers passed "Jake's Law," but 13 Investigates learned lawmakers sidelined efforts to mandate the devices in schools even though they can restart a heart that stops.
Credit: WTHR Julie West started fighting for school AED requirements after her son died after collapsing at high school football practice back in 2013. The 13 Investigates team reported those findings in the first part of its "Sidelined" series. The report also showed the state did not require schools to participate in an AED survey.
13 Investigates surveyed 125 schools and found while most schools had the devices, many did not have key emergency plans in place to use them. The second piece in the series spoke to former students and adults who were saved at schools, thanks to the presence of an AED.
"I was shocked four times,” Drew Brantley said. “Without the AED, I would not be sitting here."
In 2010, Brantley was a student at Western High School, a seemingly healthy student-athlete. Then, he collapsed in a weight class due to an undiagnosed heart condition.
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Dr. Adam Kean, a pediatric cardiologist at Riley Hospital for Children, says if an AED is used within one to three minutes, the patient’s chances of surviving improve.
“Drastically,” Kean said. “We're talking about 5-10% survival going to 50-70% survival."
This legislative session, West teamed up with Sen. Linda Rogers (R-Granger) to champion a new AED bill. The original bill died, but in a surprise move, the issue was resurrected and placed in a bill that eventually passed the House and Senate on lawmakers’ very last day.
"Your reporting has been helpful in keeping this alive,” Rogers said. “So, thank you."
Credit: WTHR Gov. Mike Braun holds up new law requiring all Indiana schools to have AEDs at events and activities during a ceremonial signing. The law went into effect on July 1, and the state is notifying schools of the new requirement to have working AEDs and venue-specific plans.
Organizations, including the National Athletic Trainers’ Association and Project Adam, recommend schools not just have AEDs, but have enough to make sure one can be retrieved in three minutes or less from any location. They also suggest schools have a cardiac or emergency response plan and conduct emergency drills.
“It's going to save lives,” West said.
Credit: WTHR Some schools require student athletes to practice calling 911, retrieving an AED and directing first responders to a victim during an emergency. The American Heart Association also supported the move.
“Indiana is the latest in a growing number of states nationwide that are moving to better prepare schools and school athletic programs to respond to cardiac arrests with the creation of cardiac emergency response plans,” said Christina Cesnik, Indiana government relations director for the American Heart Association. “More than two dozen states have passed these laws, with several more expected to be signed by governors in the coming days.”
The law applies to public, private and charter schools.