More than 5.2 million aboveground swimming pools sold in the U.S. and Canada over the past two decades are being recalled following reports of nine child drownings.
The recall includes various models from Bestway, Intex Recreation, and Polygroup, which were available at major retailers as early as 2002. According to notices released Monday by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Health Canada, the pools feature exterior compression straps that can act as footholds, allowing small children to climb in unsupervised—creating a serious drowning hazard.
Authorities say nine children in the U.S., aged between 22 months and 3 years, died between 2007 and 2022 after accessing these pools without adult supervision. No drowning deaths linked to the recall have been reported in Canada.
Consumers are urged to stop using the pools immediately and contact the manufacturers—Bestway, Intex, or Polygroup—for a free repair kit. The kit will replace the compression strap with a rope to eliminate the foothold risk. Until the repair is complete, officials recommend keeping children away from the pools or draining them entirely.
The recalled pools are all 48 inches or taller and can be identified by brand and model listed in the official recall alerts from both regulatory agencies. These pools were sold through both online and physical retail channels, including Walmart, Target, Lowe’s, Costco, and Amazon, with sales dating from 2002 through as recently as 2025.
Of the total recalled, approximately 5 million were sold in the U.S., and around 266,000 were distributed in Canada.
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