Millions of Pools Recalled Nationwide After 9 Child Deaths
As summer is in full swing, about 5 million above-ground swimming pools are being recalled by their manufacturers because they pose a drowning risk.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) explains that the compression strap surrounding each of the pool’s exterior can be used as a foothold. This allows children to climb into the pool even when the ladder is removed.
The recall follows the deaths of nine children between 22 months and 3 years old who drowned after falling into the pool using the footholds. The deaths occurred between 2007 and 2022 in California, Texas, Florida, Michigan, Wisconsin, Missouri. Three other children also climbed into the pool via the footholds in 2011 and 2012.
Here is everything families need to know about the recalled pools and what to do if you have one.
Which Pools Are Being Recalled?
The pools, which have been sold since 2002, are manufactured by Bestway, based in Hong Kong; Bestway (USA) Inc., based in Arizona; International Ltd, based in China; Intex Recreation Corp., based in California, and Polygroup North America Inc., based in Texas.
They’ve been sold in stores across the country, including Walmart, Target, Sears, Lowe’s, Kmart, Toys “R” Us, Sam’s Club, The Home Depot, Big Lots, Costco, BJ’s, and others. They have also been sold online at Amazon.com and Wayfair.com, as well as on the websites of Bestway USA, Intex, Funsicle, and Summer Waves.
The 48-inch and taller above-ground pools retailed for about $400 to over $1,000. The recalled products are described below:
What To Do if You Have a Recalled Pool
If your family owns one of these pools, you should contact Bestway, Intex, or Playground to get a free repair kit. This kit includes a rope that will wrap around the pool by attaching to the vertical support poles. The rope will keep the structural integrity of the pool, serving the same purpose as the compression straps. Once the rope is in place, customers are told to cut and remove the compression strap.
“In the interim consumers should ensure that children cannot access the pool unattended or, alternatively, drain the pool until the repair can be installed,” the CPSC says.
This is critical as drowning is the leading cause of death for children 1-4 years old in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
