5 Million Backyard Pools Recalled After 9 Drowning Deaths

Some 5 million above-ground swimming pools linked to nine drowning deaths have been recalled, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said in a notice Monday.

The 48-inch and taller swimming pools made by Bestway, Intex and Polygroup have been sold nationwide since 2002. Children can easily get into the pool by climbing the compression straps on the outside and over the vertical support legs, the CPSC said.

The agency believes nine children between the ages of 22 months and 3 years old have drowned after climbing into the pool. The incidents occurred in California, Texas, Florida, Michigan, Wisconsin and Missouri between 2007 and 2022.

The CPSC said 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.

Consumers should immediately contact Bestway, Intex, and Polygroup to receive a free repair kit consisting of a rope that attaches to each of the vertical support poles at the ground level and wraps around the pool. The rope will maintain the structural integrity of the pool (a function previously served by the compression strap). Consumers should first secure the repair and then cut and remove the compression strap from the pool.

The pools were sold since 2002 at stores nationwide, including 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 by Amazon, Wayfair, Bestway USA, Intex, Funsicle and Summer Waves for between $400 and around $1,000, depending on the size and model and the additional accessories purchased.

The affected models are:

Bestway and Coleman models sold from 2008 to 2024,

• Bestway and Coleman models sold from 2008 to 2024 include Power Steel and Pro Steel;
• Intex models sold from 2002 to 2012 include Metal Frame Pools and Ultra Frame Pools;
• Intex models sold only by the corporation online and at Walmart from 2024 to 2025 (266 pools) include Prism Frame Pool and Ultra XTR Frame Pool;
• Polygroup models sold from 2006 to 2025 include Summer Waves pools sold from 2006-201, Funsicle pool sold from 2023-2025, Sand n Sun pools sold from 2008 to 2011, and Blue Wave pools sold from 2014 to 2025.

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.