A massive recall has been issued for over 5 million above-ground swimming pools sold across the United States and Canada due to a serious safety hazard linked to the deaths of nine young children. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), along with manufacturers Bestway, Intex, and Polygroup, announced the recall after identifying a dangerous flaw involving compression straps used in the pool’s structure.
Compression Straps Pose Drowning Hazard for Small Children
The pools, all 48 inches or taller, include a fabric compression strap that wraps around the outside of the pool’s frame. According to the CPSC, these straps create a foothold that children can use to climb into the pool, even when ladders have been removed. Tragically, this design flaw has already contributed to the deaths of nine children between 22 months and 3 years old in incidents occurring between 2007 and 2022 in Texas, California, Florida, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Missouri.
In addition to the reported fatalities, there have been at least three other known cases where children were able to gain access to the pools using the same compression strap.
Recall Affects Pools Sold Nationwide Since 2002
The affected pools were sold through major U.S. retailers, including Walmart, Target, Lowe’s, Costco, Amazon, and others, between 2002 and 2025. More than 250,000 units were also sold in Canada. The price of these pools ranged from $400 to over $1,000, depending on the model and seller.
Consumers are being urged to immediately stop using the pools unless children can be prevented from accessing them. A free repair kit—consisting of a rope to replace the compression strap—is being offered by the manufacturers to correct the design issue.
Serious Product Liability Questions Raised
While the recall is a necessary step toward preventing further tragedies, the loss of nine children over the past two decades raises critical questions about how this hazard was not addressed sooner. Product manufacturers and distributors have a legal duty to ensure that consumer goods, especially those intended for family or recreational use, are safe when used as intended. When that duty is breached, companies can be held liable through personal injury or wrongful death claims.
In this case, potential legal issues include:
- Defective design that allowed unsupervised access to the pool despite removal of standard entry points.
- Failure to warn consumers about the risks posed by the compression straps.
- Delayed action in issuing a recall despite multiple child fatalities over many years.
What to Do If Your Family Was Affected
If your child was injured—or if you lost a loved one—due to one of these now-recalled pools, you may have legal options. Victims and their families may be entitled to compensation for:
- Medical expenses
- Funeral and burial costs (in wrongful death cases)
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of companionship and parental guidance
Speak With a Product Liability Attorney Today
At Spagnoletti Law Firm, we represent families across the country in serious injury and accident cases. If your family has been affected by defective product, contact our office today at 713-804-9306 to schedule a free consultation. We can help you understand your legal rights and explore whether a claim for compensation is appropriate.