A 2-year-old Nashville girl died Monday evening after she was found unresponsive in her family's backyard pool. Her father performed CPR and drove her to the nearest fire hall, where first responders continued efforts before she was taken to Vanderbilt Children's Hospital, where she later died.
According to FOX 17 WZTV, Youth Services Division detectives have opened an investigation into the apparent accidental drowning. The girl's father told police the family had planned to swim around 6 p.m. when the child ran off while he was changing. He searched for several minutes before finding her in the pool. The station reports that video shows the child may have been in the water for about eight minutes before she was discovered and that the father performed CPR at the scene.
Local Data and Public Health Response
According to CDC, drowning is the leading cause of injury death for children ages 1 to 4. The Metro Public Health Department's Child Death Review lists drowning among preventable causes in Davidson County and provides data and recommendations on local efforts to reduce these tragedies, per Metro Public Health.
Prevention and a Recent Close Call
Parents and safety advocates emphasize layers of protection such as fences, pool covers, active supervision, swim lessons and knowing CPR as key defenses against backyard drownings. Earlier this month, a 2-year-old in Marshall County was pulled from a family pool and survived after relatives performed CPR and the child received care at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital, according to WSMV.
Metro Public Health and national agencies offer resources on pool safety and CPR, and families can contact the Lentz Public Health Center for guidance. Nashville police say Youth Services detectives continue to investigate and have not released the family's names, per FOX 17 WZTV.
