On August 29, 2025, our lives changed forever. In just minutes, our four-year-old son, Sol, slipped out a door and into our pool. Despite every desperate effort by us and first responders, we couldn’t save him. Today, we laid Sol to rest.

Petition Focus: Drowning Prevention and Awareness

Relevant Statistics : Drowning is the leading cause of death in children ages 1-4 (CDC)

A child can drown in under 30 seconds, in as little as 2 inches of water. (Hackensack Meridian Health)

CDC: 74% of fatal drownings among children ages 1-4 occur in home swimming pools. This is nearly three out of every four drowning deaths in that age group.

2. Recent Public Pool Legislation (Already Covered by HB 4035)

In 2024, Oklahoma passed House Bill 4035, which updated regulations for public pools and spas, such as:

Apartment complexes

Community centers

Hotels and motels

HOA-managed pools

This law, effective November 1, 2024, ensures these facilities meet strict barrier and safety rules.

However, HB 4035 does not address private, residential backyard pools, which is where Sol’s Law comes in.

The CDC and U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission strongly emphasize four-sided isolation fencing as the most effective drowning prevention measure for young children, making this a high-risk oversight.

According to CDC Water Safety Facts, proper four-sided fencing reduces drowning risk by 83% for toddlers.

3. Why Sol’s Law is Needed

Sol’s Law aims to close this dangerous gap and protect all children, particularly the most vulnerable.

Key Proposed Measures:

Retrofit Requirement:

Require every residential pool to be fitted with secure, childproof barriers, including self-closing gates and door alarms.

Making Safety Upgrades Affordable for All Families

1. Partnerships with Nonprofit Organizations

Work with willing nonprofit groups and community organizations dedicated to water safety and child injury prevention.

These organizations could help cover or offset the cost of installing secure fencing, self-closing gates, and door alarms for families who need financial assistance.

By leveraging established programs and grant resources, we can reduce the burden on individual homeowners while promoting a community-based approach to safety.

State-Backed Subsidies or Rebates

Develop a subsidy or rebate program to further support homeowners.

Homeowners could receive a partial reimbursement or, for low-income households, full coverage — of approved pool safety upgrades. This ensures no family is forced to choose between financial hardship and child safety.

By combining nonprofit partnerships with state-level subsidies, Sol’s Law creates a sustainable, compassionate pathway to compliance while protecting children across Oklahoma.

Mandatory Informational Resources: Require hospitals, clinics, pediatricians, and therapy centers to provide free, standardized drowning prevention pamphlets or videos to:

All new mothers at the time of birth or first pediatric visit.

Caregivers of children under age 5,

Families of children with autism or other developmental disabilities.

Children with autism are 160 times more likely to experience non-fatal and fatal drowning incidents compared to the general pediatric population. (National Autism Association)

The Hidden Danger of “Water Wings” and Other Non-Approved Floatation Devices:

One of the most overlooked dangers in drowning prevention lies in the use of inflatable “water wings,” “puddle jumpers,” and other unapproved flotation devices. These products are widely marketed as swimming aids, but they are toys, not safety equipment, and they can silently condition children for tragedy.

Water wings and similar devices hold a child upright in the water—the exact position in which drowning occurs. This vertical posture prevents them from learning the horizontal body alignment required for real swimming and self-rescue. Instead of building proper balance, breathing control, and body awareness, these devices teach the opposite: that staying vertical means staying safe. When the flotation is removed or slips away, the child’s body naturally returns to the same position—head up, legs down—and sinks instantly.

This false association between flotation and safety is one of the most dangerous illusions a child can internalize. Children quickly learn to trust the feeling of buoyancy as their own ability rather than the device’s support. They often re-enter the water without it, unaware that the skill they thought they had was artificial.

Compliance Timeline for Safety Upgrades: To ensure fairness and allow families time to comply, Sol’s Law will be phased in gradually over a reasonable timeline. This approach gives homeowners the opportunity to plan, budget, and take advantage of available assistance programs.

Proposed Timeline:

Phase 1: Awareness and Preparation (Months 1–6 after law takes effect)

State and local governments, in partnership with nonprofits, will launch an education campaign to inform homeowners of the new requirements.

Homeowners will receive notifications by mail and online with details about what upgrades are required, approved contractors, and how to apply for financial assistance or subsidies.

Phase 2: Subsidy Applications and Initial Retrofits (Months 7–18)

Homeowners may apply for subsidies, grants, or nonprofit partnership supportduring this period.

Priority will be given to homes with children under age 5

Families with children who have autism or developmental disabilities. 

Households demonstrating financial hardships

Initial retrofits, such as door alarms or temporary barriers, should be completed during this time.

Phase 3: Final Completion (TBA)

All residential pools must be fully fitted with approved safety barriers by this date.

Local authorities will conduct spot checks or inspections to ensure compliance.

Families who have applied for subsidies but are still awaiting funding will receive extension considerations.

Public Awareness Campaign:
Launch statewide drowning prevention campaigns, similar to those for car seat safety or SIDS prevention, using:

Social media,

Billboards,

Radio and television PSAs,

Community outreach programs.

This petition is about more than honoring our son’s memory. It’s about preventing other families from experiencing this heartbreak and ensuring that every Oklahoma child, neurotypical or autistic — is protected by clear laws, education, and community support.

Older backyard pools, left unguarded by outdated laws, are where most childhood drownings take place. If just one child is spared through Sol’s Law, one family will be saved from living our nightmare, and that alone makes this fight worth it.