Nine children between the ages of 22 months and 3 years have drowned while using above ground pools with compression straps recalled this week, according to a notice from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Along with Bestway (Hong Kong), International Ltd. (China), Bestway (USA) Inc. (Chandler, Arizona), Intex Recreation Corp. (Long Beach, California) and Polygroup North America Inc. (El Paso, Texas) the CPSC announced the recall of 5 million of these above ground pools that are 48-inches high or taller Monday. Drowning incidents related to the pools occurred in Michigan, Wisconsin and Missouri between 2007 and 2022.
Per the CPSC, children who drowned accessed the pools by gaining a foothold on compression straps that wrap around the pools, outside of the supporting poles, to maintain the structural integrity of the pools. By using these straps, small children are able to access the pools even if ladders are removed.
In addition to the nine drownings, the CPSC said it is “also aware of three other incidents in 2011 and 2012 where children who gained access to the recalled pools were reported to have previously used the compression strap to gain entry to the pool.”
It instructed consumers who purchased the pools to immediately contact Bestway, Intex, and Polygroup to receive a free repair kit. Inside the kits is a rope that attaches to each of the vertical support poles at the ground level and wraps around the pool, replacing the strap as the structural integrity bolster of the pools.
“Consumers should first secure the repair and then cut and remove the compression strap from the pool,” the CPSC said.
The recalled pools were sold under various brand names, printed with model numbers on the pool liner on the outside of the pool. They were sold nationwide at Walmart, Target, Sears, Lowe’s, Kmart, Toys “R” Us, Sam’s Club, The Home Depot, Big Lots, Costco and BJ’s, among others, as well as online at Amazon.com, Wayfair.com, Bestway USA, Intex, Funsicle and Summer Waves websites. Prices ranged from $400 to more than $1,000. Outside of the U.S., 266,000 were sold in Canada.
Bestway and Coleman Models sold from 2008 to 2024 were called Power Steel, Steel Pro and Coleman Power Steel. Intex models sold from 2002 to 2012 were called Metal Frame Pools and Ultra Frame Pools. Intex models sold only through Intexcorp.com and Walmart in 2024 and 2025 were called Prism Frame Pool and Ultra XTR Frame Pool Polygroup models sold from 2006 through this year were called Summer Waves, Summer Escapes, Funsicle, Sand and Sun and Blue Wave.
“CPSC’s website www.PoolSafely.gov has free, downloadable educational materials available to the public on pool safety including information on barriers, covers, alarms and other safety information,” said the commission.
Until consumers receive their repair kits, the CPSC recommends that they make sure their children cannot access the pools unattended. Pools can also be drained until repaired.
Other recent recalls covered by Audacy included a recall of yogurt marketed to children and the recall of 850,000 Ford vehicles due to fuel pump problems.