WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in coordination with Bestway, Intex Recreation Corp., and Polygroup North America Inc., has announced the recall of approximately 5 million above-ground swimming pools 48 inches and taller due to a drowning hazard associated with exterior compression straps.
The affected pools—manufactured in China and sold under various brand names including Bestway, Coleman, Intex, Polygroup, Summer Waves, and Blue Wave—feature compression straps that wrap around the outside of the vertical support poles. These straps can act as footholds, allowing young children to climb into the pool even when the ladder has been removed.
CPSC believes nine children between the ages of 22 months and 3 years old drowned in separate incidents between 2007 and 2022 after accessing these pools via the exterior footholds. The incidents occurred in California, Texas, Florida, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Missouri. Additionally, the agency is aware of three other cases in which children reportedly used the compression straps to enter the pool in 2011 and 2012.
The pools were sold nationwide from 2002 to 2025 at major retailers including Walmart, Target, Lowe’s, The Home Depot, Costco, and online through Amazon.com and manufacturer websites. Prices for the pools ranged from approximately $400 to more than $1,000. Another 266,000 units were sold in Canada.
Consumers are urged to contact Bestway, Intex, or Polygroup to obtain a free repair kit, which includes a replacement rope that secures around the base of the pool to maintain its structural integrity. After installing the rope, consumers should remove the existing compression straps. In the interim, CPSC advises securing the pool from unsupervised child access or draining it entirely until repairs are complete.
The CPSC encourages pool owners to visit www.PoolSafely.gov for downloadable resources on pool safety, including guidance on barriers, alarms, and other safety measures.
