A West Vancouver nanny is being praised for her quick actions after she saved an unresponsive toddler who had fallen into a backyard pool.

The 19-month-old boy was at home in the 6100-block of Nelson Avenue when he slipped away from a parent and the nanny, climbed a barricade and tumbled into the water, according to police. One of the adults found him floating there a few minutes later. When they pulled him out of the water he wasn't breathing.

While someone called 9-1-1, the nanny set to performing CPR, eventually reviving the child. By the time police arrived a few minutes later, he had regained consciousness. The boy was taken to hospital for treatment. As of Friday afternoon, he was still there, but was expected to recover fully.

"It was heroic," said Const. Kellie English, a spokeswoman for the WVPD. "Honestly, we're incredibly thankful that she (knew) exactly what to do from a CPR point of view. Even professionals like ourselves, anytime there is any sort of situation to do with a child, although you are focused, it rattles you."

The incident has prompted the WVPD to issue a reminder about backyard pools.

"(Parents need) to be extra vigilant," said English. "Kids are fast. They have a natural attraction to water. This is an example of how quickly something can go wrong."

Pools should be enclosed in a childproof barrier, she said, and homeowners should be careful to ensure there is no patio furniture or other object against it that could allow a child to climb over -- although this doesn't appear to have been a factor in this case.

A four-year-old boy died after falling into a backyard pool in the same neighbourhood in July 2006. A family member found him floating facedown in the water after having been out of sight for just a few minutes. He died in hospital.