Millions of families across North America who own above‑ground swimming pools should pay urgent attention: a major safety recall has been announced by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Health Canada. This recall impacts over 5 million pools in the U.S. and an additional 266,000 in Canada, covering models sold since 2002 that are 48 inches (4 feet) in height or taller.
The common design flaw involves external compression straps around the pool’s vertical supports, which can function as footholds—enabling small children to climb into the water unsupervised—even when ladders are removed.
Between 2007 and 2022, there have been nine confirmed fatalities of toddlers aged between 22 months and three years old, who drowned after climbing into these pools via the compression straps. These heartbreaking incidents took place across six U.S. states: California, Texas, Florida, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Missouri.
Additionally, regulators noted three other non-fatal incidents in 2011 and 2012, where children accessed the pools using the same straps.
While Canada has reported no fatalities, the recall applies to all affected units distributed there.
Affected Products and Brands
This recall includes models from several prominent manufacturers:
- Bestway (Hong Kong & Bestway USA, Arizona)
- Intex Recreation Corp. (California)
- Polygroup North America Inc. (Texas)
Formats affected include Power Steel, Metal Frame, Prism Frame, Summer Waves, Funsicle, Coleman Power Steel, Ultra XTR, and numerous others spanning different production years from 2002 through 2025.
Retailers selling these pools include Walmart, Target, Costco, Lowe’s, Home Depot, Sears, Kmart, BJ’s, Sam’s Club, Toys “R” Us, Big Lots, Amazon, Wayfair, and manufacturer websites.
Prices ranged from approximately $400 to over $1,000, depending on size and accessories.
What Consumers Should Do
Stop use immediately: Remove ladders, block access, or drain the pool to prevent incidents until repaired.
Request a repair kit: Contact Bestway, Intex, or Polygroup to receive a free repair kit, which provides a replacement rope designed to wrap around the pool’s support poles—without creating footholds.
Replace straps: Install the rope kit first, then cut and remove the hazardous compression straps.
Install barriers: Experts emphasise that pool fencing with self‑latching gates is critical, even for above‑ground setups, to prevent unsupervised child access.
Industry and Regulatory Response
Manufacturers Bestway, Intex, and Polygroup have been working with the CPSC since 2023 to update safety designs. The updated guidelines, formalised in May 2025, prohibit any external features that could be used as footholds by children.
Most pool models currently sold already comply with the new safety standard, but the recall retroactively covers all units sold since 2002.
Despite the design flaw being known for years, some older models remained in circulation until the recall was initiated this month. Engineers warn that relying on ladder removal alone is insufficient—compression straps can easily compromise safety.
Preventive Safety Measures
- Constant adult supervision is essential around any pool—temporary or permanent.
- Fencing regulations remain the first line of defence, especially fencing with self‑closing, self‑latching gates.
- Additional layers of protection, such as pool alarms and covers, provide extra safety.
- The CPSC’s PoolSafely.gov offers free resources and guides on pool safety standards and best practices.
If you own one of the impacted pools, it’s crucial to act immediately. Temporarily disable pool access, request the rope replacement kit, and remove all compression straps. With summer in full swing, protecting children from preventable tragedies must be a top priority.
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