More than 5.2 million aboveground swimming pools sold in the United States and Canada are under recall following reports of nine drowning deaths involving young children. The pools, manufactured by Bestway, Intex Recreation, and Polygroup, have been on the market since 2002 and are associated with a significant safety risk.
According to notices released on October 16, 2023 by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Health Canada, these pools feature compression straps on the exterior. These straps may inadvertently provide a foothold for small children, enabling them to access the water without adult supervision. This poses a serious risk of drowning, particularly for children aged 22 months to 3 years old. The reported fatalities occurred between 2007 and 2022.
The CPSC has confirmed that the nine drowning incidents took place in the United States, but no additional fatalities have been reported in Canada. Consumers who own these pools are strongly urged to contact the manufacturers immediately to obtain a free repair kit. This kit includes a rope designed to replace the potentially hazardous compression strap.
Owners of the affected pools should take additional precautions until repairs are made. Regulators advise draining the pools or ensuring that children cannot access them unsupervised. All recalled pools stand at 48 inches or higher and can be identified by specific brand and model names listed on the recall notices from both the CPSC and Health Canada.
The recall affects approximately 5 million pools sold in the United States through major retailers such as Walmart, Target, Lowe’s, Costco, and Amazon. An additional 266,000 units were sold in Canada. The sales of these pools span various models and locations, with some products still being sold as recently as 2025.
Consumers are encouraged to act swiftly by reaching out to the manufacturers for the necessary repairs to help prevent any future incidents. The safety of young children around these pools remains a top priority for regulators and manufacturers alike.
