Saturday’s tragic death of a 2-year-old found face down in a back yard swimming pool was a somber reminder that accidents around water are linked to numerous deaths each year. There are items available that could be lifesavers.

The girl had been with a 14-year-old relative who Bellevue Police say is mentally challenged. They both wandered off from a relative's house down the street from the pool near Garden Avenue and Westridge.

The girls were reported missing about 2:30 p.m. Neighbors recalled seeing them.

"I was sitting there up on my porch like I'm sitting now and they said hi and I said hi and I didn't pay the kids no more attention,” said Bessie Ray. "Oh Lord, my heart goes out to the family."

“I thought they was just goin' in the streets like we were to watch the air show,” said Gloria Ray, referring to the annual event at nearby Offutt Air Force Base.

A half-hour after police began searching they found the teenager in a parking lot a few blocks away. "The older girl was found on the street walking around and after searching the area for a little while, one of the officers found the little girl in the pool in the back yard," said Bellevue Police Lt. David Stukenholtz.

Police say CPR was performed, but the girl was pronounced dead at Midlands Hospital. No one saw how the girl made it past the chain link fence and into the above-ground pool. The homeowners weren't there at the time.

The names of the girls have not been released. They are related, though exactly how has not yet been disclosed.

Bellevue code enforcement for pools over 18 inches deep or nine feet in diameter must have at least a six-foot fence plus all gates or doors must close and latch automatically. The latches must be at least 45 inches above ground and any gaps in the fence can't be greater than four inches.

If that isn't enough, Bill Cole of Classic Pool and Spa says there are additional options for homeowners wanting added safety such as pool
alarms.

“Basically what it does it sets a barrier around the pool similar to a kind of an invisible fence. This one works a little bit differently in that you have to wear a bracelet. If the bracelet gets too close to the barrier then the alarm sounds."

There are also drawbacks. "Any sort of animal or obstruction would set off the alarm."

Cole says only a few have sold this summer and he says most use what they have always used. "I guess it's just a fence."