Take Five: Spreading the word about the Lifeline Law

You might have heard about the new Lifeline Law public awareness campaign launched last week. In today’s blog post, we’ll answer questions about the Lifeline Law and how the Lifeline message is being spread across the state.

1. What is the Lifeline Law?

Indiana’s Lifeline Law provides legal protections to minors under the influence of alcohol who call to report a medical emergency or a crime. When someone is facing an emergency, we don’t want fear of prosecution to stop those around them from doing the right thing.

2. Why is the Lifeline Law important?

Today, about 40 percent of college students binge drink. For people who are engaging in risky practices like partying prior to sporting events or popular drinking games, this law could save their life. It is vital for students and parents to know about the law and the steps they can take to prevent the loss of young Hoosier lives.

3. What is the new Lifeline Law public awareness campaign?

Last week, Indiana launched a widespread outreach initiative dedicated to informing students and parents about the Lifeline Law through the Internet and radio. Students in Indiana accessing the Internet through their college or university will now receive information about the Lifeline Law on Facebook, YouTube and Pandora. The messaging will occur through triangulation between cell towers, creating a digital dome over the geography of a campus.

4. Which campuses will be receiving Lifeline messages?

• Indiana University
  
• Ball State University
  
• Purdue University
  
• Indiana State University
  
• University of Notre Dame
  
• Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
• University of Evansville
• DePauw University
  
• Indiana Wesleyan University
  
• University of Southern Indiana
  
• Butler University
  
• Wabash College
  
• Trine University
  

5. What messages will the students receive?

During the first three weeks of school, about 2 million Lifeline Law messages will be delivered to students. While listening to music or checking social media outlets on campus, they will see the yellow and red Lifeline Law logo, and hear more information about the law. There will also be a series of statewide radio advertisements featuring testimonials from parents who lost a child from the effects of binge drinking.

If you have other questions about the Lifeline Law or the new public awareness campaign, feel free to contact us on Facebook or Twitter.