Spreading knowledge of Lifeline Law an ongoing issue

Public awareness is a still largely missing component of the Indiana Lifeline Law, which took effect less than two months ago.

The new state law provides legal protection to underage persons who call for emergency help on the behalf of another in situations of alcohol over-consumption.

Lifeline, implemented July 1, encourages bystanders to call 911, potentially saving lives.

But since the law went into effect, there has been one high-profile death of a minor due to alcohol overconsumption.

Brett Finbloom, 18, of Carmel, Ind., died Aug. 5 after a pre-college party with friends. It is not yet known if those with Finbloom hesitated in calling 911, thus delaying medical
attention.

State Sen. Jim Merritt, R-Indianapolis, was one of the main sponsors who helped shepherd the bill through the legislative process.

He cited Finbloom’s death as evidence that underage drinkers in the state do not have full knowledge of the law.

“It’s an awareness issue,” Merritt said. “It’s a constant education effort. I need to be a representative of the message that first it’s not good to drink alcohol, and second, it’s OK to seek help.”

Merritt added he was confident that if Finbloom’s friends had known of the protections in the law, they would have sought medical help.

IU Student Association President Kyle Straub said much more needs to be done to ensure all students in the state are informed. Last year’s IUSA administration was a key member of the student government coalition that helped bring the idea to the
state legislature.

After the bill passed through the Statehouse unanimously, Gov. Mitch Daniels signed it into law May 4.

Following the legislative success in spring, Lifeline fell from the top of IUSA’s priorities during the summer, Straub said.  

“We did this huge lobbying effort, and then we just became complacent,” Straub said.

Finbloom’s death reinvigorated the push for education about Lifeline, Straub said.

“It’s just so sad because two of the four execs last year and two of the execs this year are from Carmel,” Straub said. “We forget to think about back home.”

Due to the lack of state funding to promote the law, Straub said the responsibility falls to IUSA, as well as its partners from the legislative coalition.
Merritt, too, will work in the coming months to promote the new law.

“We pass all these laws in our statehouse, but there usually isn’t any effort to broadcast these changes,” Merritt said.

The state senator plans to address students at some high schools and universities in the state to help inform them.

He is also helping to raise funds through the not-for-profit agency Promising Futures of Central Indiana. Through the organization, Merritt hopes to raise enough money to make public service announcements reaching youth throughout the state.  

The Bloomington Police Department, too, is adjusting to the new law, though Cpt. Joseph Qualters said the law is more of a formalization of prior BPD practice than a totally new policy.

Lifeline has already played a role this school year at IU, as BPD has already dealt with two incidents that combined alcohol and a medical situation, Qualters said.

He offered warning concerning the new law’s requirement of emergency caller cooperation with emergency personnel on scene.

“There are those who may interfere with the efforts of law enforcement or medical personnel because of their own intoxication, and they might find themselves being arrested if they do so,” Qualters said in an email.

“That was true in the past and that would be true now since the Lifeline Law requires the caller to cooperate with authorities on the scene. Interfering — especially when told to stop or move away — would not be considered ‘cooperating,’ and we deal with that quite frequently in these types of situations.”

Qualters said the law can save lives, though he did caution its protection is limited.

“What’s important for people to realize is that it does not provide an all-encompassing ‘get out of jail free’ card,” Qualters said.

“There are certain obligations that must be met by the caller to be in compliance with the law and there are some offenses in the law that are not exempt from prosecution such as furnishing alcohol to a minor, operating while intoxicated and offenses involving controlled substances. It’s good balanced legislation considering the interests of everyone involved.”