About 5 million above-ground swimming pools with compression straps running around the outside and over the vertical support legs are being recalled.
The compression strap can create a foothold, allowing a child access to the pool, posing a drowning risk.
Nine children between the ages of 22 months and 3 years old have drowned after using footholds to get into the pools, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, or CPSC, believes. The incidents occurred in California, Texas, Florida, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Missouri between 2007 and 2022.
The recalled models include 48-inch and taller above-ground pools sold over the past 20 years under the brand names Bestway, Coleman, Intex, and Polygroup.
Consumers should immediately contact Bestway, Intex, and Polygroup to receive a free repair kit, which is a rope that attaches to each of the vertical support poles and wraps around the pool. The rope will maintain the structural integrity of the pool. Consumers need to make the repair and then remove the compression straps from the pool.
The pool brand names and model numbers are printed on the pool liner on the outside of the pool.
The recalled products include:
- Bestway and Coleman pools sold 2008-2024
- Power steel
- Steel pro
- Coleman power steel
- Intex pools sold 2002-2012
- Metal frame pools
- Ultra frame pools
- Intex pools sold only at intexcorp.com and Walmart 2024-25 (266 pools)
- Prism frame pool
- Ultra XTR frame pool
- Polygroup pools sold 2006-2025
- Summer waves (2015-2025)
- Summer escapes (2006-2015)
- Funsicle (2023-2025)
- Sand n sun (2008-2011)
- Blue Wave (2014-2025)
The recalled pools have been sold since 2002 at stores nationwide, including Walmart, Target, Sears, Lowe’s, Kmart, Toys “R” Us, Sam’s Club, The Home Depot, Big Lots, Costco, and BJ’s and online at Amazon.com, Wayfair.com, Bestway USA, Intex, Funsicle, and Summer Waves.
They cost about $400 to more than $1,000, depending on the size and model of the pool and the additional accessories purchased. In addition, about 266,000 were sold in Canada.
Consumers should contact Bestway, Intex, or Polygroup to request a repair kit. Before repair, consumers should make sure that children can’t access the pool unattended or, instead, drain the pool until the repair is made.
For details on other recalls, see www.recalls.gov.
