(NEXSTAR) – About 5 million above-ground pools are being recalled after being linked to the drowning deaths of nine children between 2007 and 2022.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), along with several of the pools’ manufacturers, announced the recall on Monday. A recall alert published by the CPSC indicated that an external strap, which wraps around the supports of the pools, could provide a way for children to enter the water, even if the ladder has been removed.
“The compression strap that surrounds the outside of the pool legs may create a foothold, allowing a child access to the pool, posing a drowning risk,” reads the alert.
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The CPSC believes the pool straps were linked to nine deaths of children “between the ages of 22 months and 3 years old.” The drownings occurred between 2007 and 2022 in six states: California, Texas, Florida, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Missouri. The CPSC said it was aware of three additional incidents during that time, but did not say whether those incidents resulted in death.
The CPSC also included an image of a child standing on one of the compression straps, illustrating how a child might be able to enter the water on their own.
An image provided by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission shows a child gaining a foothold on a strap surrounding one of the recalled pools. (CPSC)
Pools affected by the recall were manufactured in China and sold under the brand names Bestway, Coleman, Intex, and Polygroup, the recall alert indicates. All of the models have sides that are 48 inches or taller.
The recalled pools were offered for sale in stores and online at over a dozen national outlets. Major retailers included Walmart, Target, Amazon, The Home Depot, Costco, BJ’s, and Wayfair, among several others listed in the CPSC’s alert.
Consumers who have the pools are being urged to contact Bestway, Intex, or Polygroup for a free repair kit, which allows owners to replace the compression straps with a rope that sits nearer to the ground.
“In the interim, consumers should ensure that children cannot access the pool unattended or, alternatively, drain the pool until the repair can be installed,” reads the alert.
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More information, including the models of the recalled pools and contact information for Bestway, Intex, or Polygroup, can be found in the CPSC alert.
