Tell Your State Senator to Support Newborns. Save Lives!

Your help is needed to make sure this important piece of legislation passes through the Senate.

I learned first hand how effective writing or calling your representative can be. I wrote my Senator, and he introduced a law to make sure every baby in Indiana is screened with pulse oximetry.

So fellow Hoosiers, can you step up and help with this? Your lawmakers need to hear from you before voting on this bill.

Today the Indiana Senate Health and Provider's Committee unanimously voted to approve the pulse oximetry bill, or Cora's Law, Indiana Senate Bill 552. A huge step forward with this bill.

The bill soon moves in front of the full Senate for voting. Can you take just two minutes to write your Senator and tell her to support Bill 552? Tell him that the lives of newborns are important to you?

As a reminder, pulse oximetry is something that all hospitals already have, staff are familiar with, it's non-invasive and cheap. It detects some congenital heart defects. It's a start. The Indiana bill would also let people sign a waiver if the didn't want a child screened. I like pulse oximetry because it's a basic vital sign so it doesn't interrupt important mother-baby bonding. It's not done until about a day after the baby is born. It's as easy and non-invasive as checking the baby's temperature. Check out my testimony in front of the committee for more information.

Write Your Senator

If you live in Indiana call or write today. First, find your state Senator at this website. You'll have to enter your full address. Your State Senator should be the first result on the next page. After you find your Senator, go to the Senator's website and look for a link that says "write your Senator" or "Email" to send an electronic message.

Call Your Senator
Your Senator's office phone number is listed on the Senator look up page. Call and tell him to support pulse oximetry.

Content of Letter

Letters are best when they aren't a form letter, but something you draft. If you're having trouble drafting a letter, please feel free to contact me, kbrite@gmail.com

Here's a rough outline of what you could write:

Dear Senator XXXX

I'm a resident of (your city) in your district. I'm writing today to ask you to vote yes to Bill 552, pulse oximetry screening for every newborn. This inexpensive screening will save lives.

(Insert your connection here. If you're a CHD family, briefly mention your story. If you simply care about saving the lives of babies, then write that here).

(Insert a few facts about pulse oximetry screening here, such as: pulse oximetry costs less than a diaper change. pulse oximetry is non-invasive, every hospital already has the equipment, pulse oximetry detects critical congenital heart defects when performed sometime after 24 hours of life, pulse oximetry will save the lives of newborn Hoosiers, pulse oximetry is a basic vital taker, pulse oximetry is a simple test that will save and improve lives)

Close the letter by thanking the Senator and saying you look forward to the vote. Repeat the ask, that you want the Senator to vote for pulse oximetry.