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Approximately five million above-ground swimming pools have been recalled due to a drowning hazard, following the deaths of nine children between 2007 and 2022. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), along with companies Bestway, Intex, and Polygroup, announced the recall on Monday (July 21). The recall affects pools sold since 2002 that are 48 inches or taller and feature compression straps, which can create footholds for children to climb into the pools.
The CPSC reported that the nine fatalities involved children aged 22 months to 3 years, occurring in states including California, Florida, and Texas. In addition to these tragedies, there have been three other incidents where children accessed the pools using the compression straps.
Consumers are advised to contact Bestway, Intex, or Polygroup for a free repair kit. The kit includes a rope to replace the compression strap, maintaining the pool's structural integrity. Until repairs are made, it is recommended that pool owners prevent unsupervised access by children or drain the pool.
The recalled pools were sold at major retailers such as Walmart, Target, and Costco, and online at Amazon.com. Prices ranged from $400 to over $1,000. The recall also affects approximately 266,000 pools sold in Canada.