Feds recall 5 million pools linked to drowning deaths of 9 children

Published: Monday, July 21, 2025 at 1:16 pm

Federal Recall Issued for Millions of Above-Ground Pools Following Child Drowning Deaths

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has announced a recall of approximately 5 million above-ground pools due to safety concerns. The recall is prompted by the tragic deaths of nine children over the past two decades, all linked to the design of these pools.

The recalled pools, manufactured in China and sold by various U.S. vendors, feature a compression strap on the exterior. This strap poses a significant hazard, as it allows children to potentially access the pool even when the ladder is removed. The CPSC has confirmed that children, ranging in age from 22 months to 3 years old, have drowned after gaining access to these pools. The agency also reported three additional instances where children accessed the pools via the compression strap without drowning.

The pools in question are 48 inches high or taller and have been available for purchase since 2002. They were sold at retail locations across the United States, including major retailers like Amazon.com, Lowe's, Target, and Walmart. Over 250,000 of these pools were also sold in Canada. The price range for these pools is between $400 and $1,000.

Consumers who own these pools are urged to contact the manufacturers, Bestway, Intex, and Polygroup, to obtain a free repair kit. The kit includes a rope designed to reinforce the pool's structure and mitigate the risk of unauthorized access. The recall number is 25-393.

BNN's Perspective: This recall highlights the critical importance of product safety and the need for rigorous testing and design standards, particularly for products intended for use by children. While the manufacturers are providing a repair kit, this situation underscores the responsibility of both manufacturers and retailers to prioritize consumer safety and proactively address potential hazards.

Keywords: pool recall, above-ground pool, child drowning, CPSC, Bestway, Intex, Polygroup, safety, product recall, consumer safety, drowning deaths, pool safety, pool ladder, compression strap, repair kit

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