(Indianapolis, IN) - Jake West’s lifesaving legacy lives on in a bill signed into law this week by Indiana Governor Mike Braun.
House Bill 1515 requires that schools have a cardiac emergency response plan for all events. The new legislation strengthens a version of Jake’s Law passed two years ago addressing the presence of AEDs at school events. The 2023 legislation, advocates said, lacked certain mandates, including requirements for staff training, and they kept fighting to make heart safety as strong a priority in schools as storm and fire drills.
La Porte’s Julie West led the charge. Her son Jake died of sudden cardiac arrest at the age of 17. Her goal is to create a life-saving culture in schools. “It’s not just about AEDs, but about educating people,” She told HTNN.
But in the recent legislative session, not all lawmakers shared her enthusiasm. According to West, the topic was left out of Appropriation Committee meetings last year which was a blow to her hopes. “It was always hard for me to understand,” she said, “as a grieving mother, that side of the political world, but we were able to get to the right people this time.”
Her persistence led to a last-minute victory.
“I never gave up," West said. "I kept talking to as many people as I could, just to share Jake’s story, share my thoughts on the importance of this.”
West found a willing partner in State Senator Linda Rogers (R) of Granger, who has championed AED legislation in recent years. They were able to convince Rep. Robert Behning (R-Indianapolis) and Sen. Jeff Raatz (R-Richmond) to include AED training mandates as a piece of a larger education bill, HB 1515. That legislation passed the House and Senate on the last day of their session.
“I’m forever grateful to a lot of people who helped make this happen,” said West. She also credited former New Prairie High School biomedical teacher Tonya Aerts, Project Adam, and the American Heart Association for spreading awareness.
After many trips down to the statehouse, West stood at the governor’s side Tuesday as he signed the bill.
“I think my biggest emotion is relief,” said West, “just knowing that everyone on those school grounds in the state of Indiana will be better protected. A lot of emotions were going through me, but I think relief was the biggest one, and I really soaked that in, because I think it goes without saying the loss of a child is devastating, and it never goes away.”
Friday, by the way, was Jake’s birthday. He would have been 29. He died nearly twelve years ago after collapsing on a La Porte High School football field. But his memory lives on. If you would like to know more about being prepared for a sudden cardiac emergency, go to playforjake.org.
