STATEHOUSE (May 23, 2023) – Gov. Eric Holcomb on Monday ceremonially signed into law legislation sponsored by State Rep. Jim Pressel (R-Rolling Prairie) to help schools respond if a student goes into sudden cardiac arrest during an athletic event or other extracurricular activity.
According to the Journal of Athletic Training, sudden cardiac arrest is the No. 1 killer of student athletes and the leading cause of death on school campuses. In 2013, a La Porte high school junior Jake West collapsed during football practice and died suddenly due to an undetected heart condition. Pressel said the new law empowers schools to implement a sudden cardiac emergency plan and have a readily accessible AED or automated external defibrillator on hand during sporting events and other activities like band and drama practices. The AED is a portable life-saving device that can deliver a shock to the heart to help re-establish an effective rhythm.
"Jake was just 17 years old when he died of sudden cardiac arrest," Pressel said. "This law works to prevent other tragedies like his by making it easier for schools to obtain AEDs, and ensure coaches and other school leaders receive the necessary training on how to use it. We also want our schools to utilize an emergency action plan that's tailored for the facility or area where events are hosted, and train on those plans regularly."
Under the new law, schools will be empowered to deploy AEDs during sporting events and other activities where there is an increased risk of sudden cardiac arrest, and have a plan to establish a goal of responding within three minutes and hosting drills.
Pressel said AEDs can cost about $2,000, so schools will be able to apply for a Secured School Safety matching grant to help cover the cost of these devices. The recently passed two-year state budget increases the annual investment into the matching grant fund from $19 million to $24.6 million for the next two years.
During a House committee meeting this session, West's mom, Julie, spoke in support of this legislation, and said knowing another family could be spared the pain her family has endured makes these efforts worth fighting for.
This new law builds on Pressel's efforts to save young lives. In 2021 he authored a law to ensure student athletes and marching band members receive information on the warning signs of SCA and information on heart screenings.
To learn more about SCA among youth, and screening and protection programs, visit playforjake.org.
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State Rep. Jim Pressel (R-Rolling Prairie) represents House District 20,
which includes portions of LaPorte and Starke counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
PHOTO CAPTION: Gov. Eric Holcomb (seated, center) ceremonially signs into law legislation sponsored by State Rep. Jim Pressel (R-Rolling Prairie) (seated, right) to help schools respond if a student goes into sudden cardiac arrest during an athletic event or other extracurricular activity Monday, May 22, 2023, at the Statehouse in Indianapolis. Joining Pressel for the ceremonial signing were bill author State Sen. Linda Rogers (R-Granger) (seated, left), New Prairie High School biomedical teacher Tonya Aerts (standing, sixth from left) and Julie West (holding sign, seventh from left). West's son, Jake West, was a La Porte high school junior when he collapsed during football practice and died suddenly due to an undetected heart condition.
