Approximately 5 million above-ground pools are being recalled due to a safety concern linked to the deaths of nine children between 2007 and 2022. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced the recall on Monday in collaboration with several pool manufacturers.
The alert highlighted that an external strap surrounding the pool supports could inadvertently allow children to access the water, even if the pool cover was removed. It states, “The compression straps surrounding the outside of the pool’s legs create scaffolding, allowing children to access the pool, posing a drowning risk.”
The CPSC has indicated that these strap-related incidents involved children aged 22 months to 3 years old and occurred in states like California, Texas, Florida, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Missouri. There are also three more cases on record, but it’s unclear if those resulted in fatalities.
An image included in the alert demonstrates how a child could stand on the compression strap and potentially enter the water unaided.
The pools involved in the recall are manufactured in China and are sold under brand names including Bestway, Coleman, Intex, and Polygroup. All affected models are less than 48 inches in height.
These pools were available in multiple retail stores and online platforms, such as Walmart, Target, Amazon, and Home Depot, among others, as noted in the CPSC alerts.
Consumers who own these pools are encouraged to reach out to Bestway, Intex, or Polygroup to obtain a free repair kit. This kit allows users to replace the compression strap with a rope installed close to the ground.
The alert cautions that until repairs are done, it’s crucial for consumers to ensure children do not have unsupervised access to these pools or prevent the pools from being filled with water.
For further details, the CPSC alert provides additional information about the recalled pool models and how to contact the manufacturers.
