The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has announced a recall of about 5 million swimming pools linked to nine tragic deaths of children over the course of the last two decades. These pools, primarily those standing at least 48 inches tall, are equipped with compression straps that inadvertently allow small children to access the water unsupervised, even if a ladder has been removed.
The CPSC highlighted that the unfortunate fatalities involved children between the ages of 22 months and three years. These incidents occurred across several states, including California, Texas, Florida, Wisconsin, and Missouri, from 2007 to 2022. Moreover, the commission has noted three additional incidents from 2011 and 2012 where young children were able to gain entry to pools using the compression straps.
The affected pools were manufactured by Bestway (Hong Kong), Bestway (USA) Inc., International Ltd. (China), Intex Recreation Corp. (California), and Polygroup North America Inc. (Texas). They were sold in major retailers such as Walmart, Target, Sears, Kmart, Lowe’s, and Toys “R” Us, as well as through online platforms including Amazon, with prices ranging from $400 to $1,000. Additionally, around 266,000 pools were sold in Canada, leading to a recall announcement by Health Canada.
For those who own one of the affected pools, the CPSC recommends contacting the manufacturer for a free repair kit. This kit includes a rope intended to maintain the pool’s structural integrity, which will replace the hazardous compression strap that should be cut and removed.
This recall serves as an important reminder about the necessity of ensuring safety measures around swimming pools, especially with young children. The action taken here underscores the responsibility of manufacturers to maintain safe products and the proactive steps consumers can take to mitigate risks.
The gravity of this situation emphasizes the need for vigilant supervision around water bodies, and it is hoped that measures like this recall will lead to greater awareness, leading to safer environments for children.