5 Million Above-Ground Pools Recalled Over Deadly Drowning Risk

Summertime means warm temperatures, and that often means it’s time to go swimming. If you’re fortunate enough to have access to an in-ground pool, congratulations! You probably don’t have to worry about setting up and filling a pool whenever you want to go swimming. But if you have an above-ground pool, it’s a different story. You may have a few more steps to take before you can host a pool party. Unfortunately, the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (USCPSC) just released a report warning that millions of above-ground pools are being recalled due to a drowning hazard. Find out if yours is one of them and what to do if it is.

Why Are These Pools Being Recalled?

According to the USCPSC’s report, the recalled pools have an issue with their compression strap. More specifically, “the compression strap that surrounds the outside of the pool legs may create a foothold, allowing a child access to the pool, posing a drowning risk.” Removing the ladders is not enough to secure the pool. The compression strap will still create a usable foothold even without them.

So far, there have been at least nine deaths in children between the ages of 22 months and 3 years. There have also been three additional incidents where children “who gained access to the recalled pools were reported to have previously used the compression strap to gain entry to the pool.”

Which Pools Pose a Drowning Hazard?

The USCPSC report says that over 5 million pools manufactured as far back as 2002 pose this drowning hazard. If you own an above-ground pool that is 48 inches or deeper, uses compression straps in its design and is manufactured by one of the following companies, beware. Yours may be dangerous. The companies in question are:

• Bestway
• Intex
• Polygroup

Is There a Fix?

If you own one of the pools being recalled for posing a drowning hazard, don’t worry. The USCPSC says you can request a repair kit from the company that manufactured your pool. The kit consists of  “a rope that attaches to each of the vertical support poles at the ground level and wraps around the pool.” This rope will serve the same compression function as the old strap.

Be sure to secure the rope on your pool before removing the old compression strap. Until your pool is repaired, you “should ensure that children cannot access the pool unattended or, alternatively, drain the pool until the repair can be installed.”

Source

Bestway, Intex, and Polygroup Recall Certain Above-Ground Pools 48-Inches and Taller, United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (2025)