Millions of backyard pools recalled after tragic child drownings exposed

Roughly 5 million aboveground pools are being recalled across the U.S., according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), after a design flaw was linked to the drowning deaths of at least nine young children since 2007.

Manufacturers Bestway, Intex, and Polygroup produced the recalled pools, which feature an exterior compression strap intended to stabilize the structure. However, the strap has inadvertently provided a foothold, allowing small children to climb into the pools unsupervised, CPSC said.

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Owners are advised to immediately contact the manufacturer to receive a free repair kit. The pools, which stand four feet or taller, have been sold through major retailers such as Walmart, Amazon, Costco, and Target in both the U.S. and Canada. Some were purchased as far back as 2002; others as recently as 2025.

Representatives for the three companies have not yet commented publicly, though recall notices have been posted on their websites.

Between 2007 and 2022, nine children between the ages of 22 months and 3 years drowned after using the strap to climb into these pools, with incidents reported in California, Texas, Florida, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Missouri. In addition, the commission noted at least three other instances in 2011 and 2012 where children gained pool access in the same manner. It remains unclear why the recall wasn’t initiated earlier. A commission spokesperson declined to elaborate on Monday.

Pool owners can locate the model number and brand name on the outer liner. The free repair kit includes a rope that attaches at ground level to each of the pool’s vertical supports. Once installed, owners can safely remove the compression strap without weakening the pool’s structure, the CPSC said.