Five Million Above-Ground Pools Recalled Over Drowning Hazard After Nine Child Deaths

A recall announced by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) warns that millions of above-ground pools manufactured by Bestway, Intex, and Polygroup pose a serious drowning risk to young children due to an unsafe strap design. The affected pools have been sold since 2002 at major retailers and online platforms nationwide, and consumers are being urged to act immediately to secure their pools and request free repair kits.

According to CPSC, the issue stems from an external compression strap that runs over the vertical support legs of 48-inch and taller pools. This strap can serve as a foothold, enabling young children to climb into the pool even when the ladder has been removed. The agency has linked nine child fatalities, involving children between 22 months and 3 years old, to this design flaw. These incidents occurred in California, Texas, Florida, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Missouri between 2007 and 2022. In addition, three earlier incidents involved children using the strap in a similar manner.

Roughly five million pools with the hazardous design have been sold through retailers such as Walmart, Target, Lowe’s, The Home Depot, Costco, and Amazon, among others. Some models were available as recently as 2025. The recalled pools include specific Bestway, Coleman, Intex, Polygroup, and other branded models sold under names like Power Steel, Summer Waves, and Funsicle.

To address the danger, consumers are instructed to contact the respective manufacturer—Bestway, Intex, or Polygroup—for a free repair kit. The kit includes a rope system that provides structural support while eliminating the foothold hazard. Once the rope is installed, the compression strap should be removed entirely. Until the repair is made, pool owners should prevent unsupervised access to the pool or drain it to avoid accidental drownings. Educational safety materials are also available at www.PoolSafely.gov.

Article by multiple contributors, based upon information from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

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