Urgent recall issued for beloved summer essential sold at Costco and Target after multiple children die

Daily Mail​

21-07-2025

An urgent recall has been issued for about five million above-ground swimming pools after a design flaw was linked to nine child drownings.
The recall covers 48-inch and taller pools made by Bestway, Intex, and Polygroup that use compression straps.
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) warns that when wrapped around the pool, the straps can create a foothold, allowing young children to climb in even when the ladder has been removed.
The affected Bestway and Coleman models were sold between 2008 and 2024. Select Intex models purchased between 2002 and 2012, and Polygroup above-ground pools, which were sold between 2006 and 2025.
CPSC investigators say the design flaw has been linked to the deaths of nine children, ages 22 months to 3 years, between 2007 and 2022.
At least three additional incidents were reported in 2011 and 2012 in which children gained access to the pools.
All of the pools range from $400 to over $1,000, and were sold at various retailers like Target, Lowe's, Sam's Club, Costco and Big Lots.
Owners of these pools are advised to contact Bestway, Intex or Polygroup to receive a repair kit.
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission believes a malfunction was a factor in 9 deaths of young children
The repair kit includes a rope to attach to each of the pool's vertical support poles. The rope will also wrap around the pool just like the product's compression strap.
Once a consumer secures the rope, they are advised to cut and remove the original compression strap.
For maximum safety, the CSPC suggests adults insure children cannot access the pool unattended or keep the pool drained until the kit is installed.
The above-ground pools join a small string of summer essentials that have been recalled this year.
Ready-to-eat chicken sausages that can be found at barbecues were recalled this month over fears of throat lacerations.
The sausages were sold at Walmart and other retailers in 26 states, Washington DC and Puerto Rico. As of now, no injuries have been reported.
The Endless Pools company also issued a massive recall on Manual Retractable Security Pool Covers due to drowning and entrapment hazards.
Each affected cover could potentially leave a gap of over 4.5 inches between the cover roller and pool surface when incorrectly installed, which could be hazardous for young children.
Some of the highest recalls of the year so far have been for automobiles, including one for 850,000 Ford vehicles in the US.
The recent recall was made due to the potential failure of low-pressure fuel pumps, which can cause engine stalls.
The recall came around the same time the Detroit-based manufacturer broke the record for the highest number of recalls in the US this year.
Forest River came in second with 21, while Chrysler, Volkswagen, General Motors, Honda, and Mercedes-Benz followed with 18, 17, 15, 14 and 13 respectively.
Other massive vehicle recalls include nearly 21,000 Jaguar Land Rovers over a front passenger airbag defect and over 480,000 Nissan automobiles over manufacturing defects in bearings.