2-year-old drowns in pool after father says she ran off whereas he was altering for a swim

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV/Gray News) – A 2-year-old Tennessee woman drowned in a yard pool after her father says she ran off whereas he was altering for a deliberate swim.

Viomara Laura Ortiz, 2, died last Monday night after she was discovered unresponsive in her household’s yard pool, based on the Metro Nashville Police Department.

Viomara and her father had deliberate to go swimming collectively round 6 p.m. Her father advised police that whereas he was altering, the toddler ran off. He looked for her for a number of minutes earlier than he discovered her unresponsive within the pool.

Viomara’s father carried out CPR on her then rushed her to a close-by hearth station. She was later pronounced lifeless at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital.

Police say video footage from the home confirmed Viomara was within the water for about eight minutes earlier than her father discovered her.

The investigation into the incident is ongoing.

What to know if in case you have a yard pool

Laurel Pierce with SafeSplash Swim School says unintended drownings occur regularly throughout the United States. A drowning can flip lethal inside moments.

“It can be within seconds, honestly,” Pierce stated. “If you cannot find your toddler, the first place you should look is in the pool.”

For yard swimming pools, Pierce says the world needs to be geared up with a barrier that features self-latching gates and an alarm if the world is breached.

She additionally says constant swim coaching is a key security measure, including mother and father usually enroll youngsters solely throughout summer time months.

“If they’re not in the water every week — and they’re young — they’re going to forget the skills that they have,” Pierce stated.

SafeSplash begins courses at 4 months outdated.