Recall Alert: Above-Ground Pools Linked to 9 Child Drownings
Roughly five million above-ground pools have been recalled after the tragic deaths of nine children under age three were linked to a fatal design flaw.
Some big-name brands in the pool game are on the list, so if you have a above-ground pool in your yard, now’s the time to double-check. It only takes a minute to see if yours is affected, and it could make a huge difference in keeping your family safe.
What Pools Are Being Recalled?
Alright, here’s the deal: if you have an above-ground pool that’s 48 inches tall or more, and you bought it anytime between 2002 and now, you’ll want to double-check if it’s part of this recall.
These are not obscure brands either. We’re talking about the ones you pick up on a grocery run as a surprise for the family from Walmart, Target, and Costco. Most of the affected models cost between $400 and over $1,000. Here’s what to look for:
Bestway and Coleman pools sold between 2008 and 2024, especially ones labeled Power Steel or Steel Pro.
Polygroup pools made from 2006 to 2025, including popular model names like Summer Waves, Summer Escapes, and Blue Wave.
Intex is on the list too. If your pool is an older Metal Frame or Ultra Frame model from 2002 to 2012, or even a newer Prism Frame or Ultra XTR model from 2024 to 2025, it may be affected.
If you’re not sure, you’ll usually find the brand and model info on the outside of your pool liner.
What’s the Safety Concern?
A significant part of this recall is related to compression straps that wrap around the outside of certain above-ground pools, usually attached to the vertical poles.
At first glance, they seem harmless, but it turns out they can act like a stepstool.
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), this is not a “might happen” kind of risk. In fact, the worst has already happened. Between 2007 and 2022, nine young children drowned after gaining unsupervised access to these pools using those straps.
As the CPSC put it in their report:
These straps wrap around the pool on the outside of the supporting poles, and may create a foothold, allowing a child to access the pool and drown.
It’s heartbreaking. Most of these families probably had no idea those straps posed any danger. Now that we know, it’s essential to spread the word and ensure that no one else has to go through that.
What Should You Do If You Own a Recalled Pool?
If you have one of these pools in your backyard, now is the time to check the label, take action, and contact the manufacturer.
Here’s the deal: the manufacturers are offering a free repair kit complete with a new replacement rope system that wraps securely around the base of the pool’s support poles.
Until you receive and install your repair kit, either keep children away from the pool completely or drain it until you’ve the fix in place. It might feel like a hassle, but it’s 100% worth it to avoid a preventable tragedy.
Let your friends and neighbors know, too.
Keep Your Family Safe
If you’ve got one of these pools, or even think you might, reach out to the manufacturer and grab that free repair kit. It only takes a few minutes, and it could literally save a child’s life.
Drowning is still the leading cause of accidental deaths for toddlers and young children. So, if you have young children or regularly host families with children, it’s one of those small things that can make a big difference.