The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has announced the recall of nearly 5 million above-ground swimming pools following the deaths of nine children over the past two decades.
The recall involves pools 48 inches or taller manufactured by Bestway, Intex, and Polygroup. The danger lies in the compression straps used to stabilize the pool walls, which young children have been able to use as footholds to climb into the pool, even in the absence of a ladder.
The tragic deaths involved children ranging in age from 22 months to three years old, and occurred between 2007 and 2022 in California, Texas, Florida, Wisconsin, and Missouri. The CPSC is also aware of three additional non-fatal incidents from 2011 and 2012 in which children climbed into pools using the same straps.
The pools were widely sold at major retailers including Walmart, Target, Sears, Kmart, Lowe’s, and Toys “R” Us, as well as online platforms like Amazon. They retailed for $400 to $1,000 and were manufactured in China.
Consumers who own one of these pools are urged to contact the manufacturer immediately for a free repair kit. The kit includes a rope that attaches to each of the vertical support poles, maintaining the structural integrity of the pool without the compression strap, which must be cut and removed.
To ensure the safety of children, the CPSC also reminds all pool owners to closely supervise children, secure access to pools, and remove ladders when not in use.
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