Florida – State legislators are moving forward with a bill aimed at reducing child drownings by requiring pool-access doors in multifamily residences to be equipped with alarms.
House Bill 207, introduced this legislative session, would mandate that apartment complexes, condominiums, and townhouses install and maintain alarms on any doors leading to pools.
Property owners would be responsible for ensuring these alarms remain operational at all times, with routine inspections to verify compliance.
Drowning remains a serious issue in Florida, particularly among children.
In 2023, nearly 100 children lost their lives in drowning incidents, making the state one of the highest in the nation for such fatalities.
Over the past decade, Florida has consistently reported high numbers of child drowning deaths, particularly among children under the age of five.
While specific annual data for each year from 2015 to 2024 is limited, available statistics from LifeSaving.com highlight the severity of the issue:
- 2015: 84 children drowned.
- 2016: 71 children drowned.
- 2020: 69 children drowned.
- 2021: 99 children drowned.
- 2022: 93 children drowned.
- 2023: 97 children drowned.
Florida lawmakers are considering multiple drowning prevention bills this session, including a similar measure in the Senate.
If passed, these efforts could strengthen safety protocols in residential properties and help reduce drowning deaths across the state.
