BURBANK GIRL DROWNS IN BACKYARD POOL.

Byline: Susan Abram Staff Writer

BURBANK - A 3-year-old girl drowned in a back yard pool in what authorities said Thursday was a tragic accident.

The girl drowned at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday in a pool at a home in the 1000 block of East San Jose Avenue, where the youngster and her four siblings were swimming under the supervision of their grandparents, said Burbank Police Sgt. Will Berry.

After swimming, four children went back into the house followed by the grandparents, who noticed she was missing. They found her a few minutes later at the bottom of the pool's connected spa, Berry said.

Berry urged home owners to take special precautions, including installing an alarm that detects motion in the water.

Wednesday's drowning death was the first in the city this summer, he said.

At Leslie's Pool Supplies on Victory Boulevard, assistant manager Carey Cummins said sales have been swift for the shriek alarms, as well as a special bracelet children can wear.

``It's called a Safety Turtle wristband that has a sensor on it. It works like a baby monitor so parents can tell where their children are,'' she said. ``If a child goes into the water, it sends out a very loud sound.''

Berry also suggested that parents know CPR, check fences and gates around pools, as well as make sure pools are clean.

``When you look to the bottom of the pool, you should be able to see the drain,'' he said.

Susan Abram, [phone]

susan.abram(at)dailynews.com