Florida Pool Safety Reform Fails Again Despite Record Child Drownings and Mother’s Plea
Despite a record number of child drownings this year in Florida, legislation aimed at strengthening home pool safety laws once again failed to advance in the state Legislature.
Christina Martin, whose 2-year-old son Gunner drowned in the family’s backyard pool in Broward County in 2016, has made it her mission to prevent similar tragedies. After putting her son down for a nap, Gunner quietly exited his room and accessed the pool while she and her husband were just steps away. The devastating incident has become a symbol of the dangers of unprotected residential pools — especially in Florida, which leads the nation in child drowning deaths.
In 2024, 105 children drowned across Florida, with more than half of the cases involving residential pools. A majority of those incidents occurred when children gained undetected access to a pool area.
Martin’s advocacy was behind a proposed legislative update to Florida’s 25-year-old pool safety law. The existing law, the Preston de Ibern/McKenzie Merriam Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act, mandates that newly constructed or remodeled residential pools include at least one safety measure such as fencing, alarms, or self-latching doors. However, it does not apply to homes with pools built before 2000.
The new bill, introduced by Rep. Johanna López and Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith, would have required all homes with pools — regardless of construction date — to implement safety measures. It also included a provision to mandate that title companies, inspectors, or mortgage underwriters report pool safety violations to law enforcement during the sale of a home.
Despite support from advocates who compared the proposal to standard fire and carbon monoxide safety inspections, the legislation stalled. The House version died in subcommittee without a hearing, and the Senate version was indefinitely postponed.
Opponents included Tallahassee-based lobbyist David Ramba of Ramba Consulting Group, who represents municipalities such as Bradenton Beach, Daytona Beach, and Longboat Key, as well as the Building Officials Association of Florida. Ramba argued that safety changes should be incorporated into the Florida Building Code rather than written into state law.
Undeterred by the legislative setback, Martin continues her efforts through the Gunner Martin Foundation, promoting swim safety awareness. The foundation garnered national recognition in 2022 when NFL player Charley Hughlett honored the cause during the league’s #MyCauseMyCleats campaign.
Advocates say they will persist, highlighting the urgent need for stronger protections as residential pool access continues to contribute to preventable child fatalities in Florida.
In Manatee County, the nonprofit Big Dreams Through Small Steps is actively combating childhood drowning through its AQUAlibrium Drowning Prevention Program. Funded in part by grants from Step Into Swim and Ritch Ventures, the initiative provides free and low-cost swim lessons, water safety education, and community outreach to families across the region. By focusing on accessibility and early intervention, AQUAlibrium aims to equip children and caregivers with the tools and knowledge needed to prevent water-related tragedies before they occur.