The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is requesting a recall of approximately 5 million above-ground pools. The commission believes the specific pools may have contributed to multiple children drowning since 2007.
CPSC revealed details about the recall on its official website, listing the recall date as July 21, 2025. The pools in the recall are “48-inch and taller above-ground pools with compression straps running on the outside and over the vertical support legs.” The stipulation about the compression straps is important as the CPSC notes that children can use those straps as footholds to access the pool without a ladder. Per the recall notice, this design flaw poses a drowning risk.
Multiple companies are announcing the recall, including Bestway and Intex Recreation Corp. The recall isn’t unfounded either, and the CPSC lists various incidents that have led to the action. The company believes that nine children between the ages of 22 months and 3 years have drowned in these pools using the compression strap as a foothold. The report explains these incidents occurred in California, Texas, Florida, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Missouri between 2007 and 2022. The commission also notes three other incidents that reportedly occurred between 2011 and 2012, where kids entered pools using the straps.
The pools have been sold all across the USA and Canada from popular stores, including Target, Walmart, and online retailers. CPSC notes that the pools were manufactured in China. The price range for the affected products is between $400 and $1000.
Should Owners Get Rid Of The Recalled Pools?
The commission does not advise owners to remove their pools and suggests ordering a repair kit instead. “Consumers should contact Bestway, Intex, or Polygroup,” the recall notice reads. The repair kit includes a rope that connects to “each of the vertical support poles at the ground level and wraps around the pool.” Once installed, the report says owners should, “cut and remove the compression strap from the pool.”
CPSC advises that parents ensure their children cannot get to the pool unattended. They also suggest draining the pools until a repair can be completed.
Last month, Dr Pepper recalled 19,000 drink crates over a labeling mistake. The affected cans say they contain the sugar-free Dr Pepper Zero. In reality, the drinks contain the same 39 grams of sugar as regular Dr Pepper. While this is a minor issue for most people, some health conditions, like Diabetes, require sugar intake to be regulated.