Red Cross Honors Seminole County Firefighter/Paramedic Chris Martin As First Responder Hero

The American Red Cross Central Florida Coast Chapter recently honored Seminole County Fire Department Firefighter/Paramedic Chris Martin during its 2nd Annual Great Orlando Salute to Heroes Breakfast.
 
Martin, a former UCF and NFL player, was recognized with a First Responder Hero Award for his courage, compassion and dedication to pediatric drowning prevention efforts that embody the mission of the American Red Cross.
He earned the recognition for his commitment to drowning prevention education and pool safety initiatives throughout Seminole County following the tragic drowning of his son, Gunner Martin, on April 6, 2016. The loss inspired Martin to pursue a career in the fire service in 2022, and he recently became a paramedic. Through his work, he remains dedicated to helping prevent similar tragedies in the community and has responded to local drowning incidents that resulted in lives being saved.
 
Martin and his wife, Christina, have played an instrumental role in supporting the Seminole County Fire Department’s drowning prevention initiatives through the Gunner Martin Foundation. Their efforts include helping fund and distribute free door alarms, educating residents about layers of protection against pediatric drownings, and assisting in securing a national drowning prevention grant to expand these lifesaving programs.
 
“Protecting lives through prevention and education is a critical part of the Seminole County Fire Department’s mission,” said Seminole County Commission Chairman Andria Herr. “Chris Martin’s leadership and advocacy for drowning prevention have helped strengthen awareness throughout our community and support efforts to keep families safe. We are proud to see both his service and the department’s ongoing commitment to public safety recognized by the American Red Cross.”
 
“We are extremely thankful for our partnership with the Red Cross and for Firefighter/Paramedic Chris Martin, who serves as a strong advocate in our community for drowning prevention education,” said Seminole County Fire Chief Matt Kinley. “The Martin family has endured tremendous pain and loss, yet Chris continues to turn that tragedy into purpose by helping protect others. In my opinion, he is the definition of bravery and a tremendous asset to our department and community.”
 
Martin is also a past recipient of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ Florida Heroes Award and the Children’s Safety Village First Responder Award for Seminole County.
To learn more about drowning prevention efforts in Seminole County and the Martin family’s involvement, visit the Seminole County Drowning Prevention webpage at www.seminolecountyfl.gov/drowningprevention.
 
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About the Seminole County Fire Department (SCFD): The Seminole County Fire Department serves nearly a half-million residents countywide with 21 fire stations and responds to over 50,000 incidents annually. SCFD holds an ISO Class 1 rating, is accredited by the Center for Public Safety Excellence (CFAI), is gold standard–accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS), and is an Accredited Center of Excellence (ACE) through the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch. SCFD provides emergency services to unincorporated Seminole County and the cities of Altamonte Springs, Casselberry and Winter Springs, and maintains first-response agreements with Lake Mary, Longwood, Sanford, Oviedo, and Orlando Sanford International Airport. Follow SCFD on Facebook (@SCFD.1974), Instagram (@seminolefd) and X (@SCFDPIO). For more information, visit www.SCFDFL.com.