In light of multiple child drowning incidents, the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Health Canada jointly announced on Monday, July 21st, a large-scale recall of various ground-level swimming pools manufactured by Bestway, Intex, and Polygroup, involving over 5 million products.
According to the CPSC announcement, the recalled products are all ground-level pools exceeding 48 inches (approximately 122 centimeters) in height. The issue lies in the design of the pool frame structure: most products have outer securing straps spanning the vertical support legs, creating climbable “footing points” for young children to climb into the pool, increasing the risk of drowning when unsupervised.
Furthermore, these pools mostly come equipped with safety-compliant fixed ladders or entry/exit devices. In the event of a child accidentally falling into the water, self-rescue becomes difficult, further heightening the danger.
The models of the recalled pools cover a wide range, including three Bestway pools sold from 2008 to 2024, two Intex pools from 2003 to 2012, and four Polygroup pools from 2006 to 2025.
Official data shows that these pool products have sold over 5 million units in the United States and approximately 266,000 units in Canada.
CPSC reported that there have been 9 child drowning cases as of now, occurring between 2007 and 2022. The children who tragically lost their lives were aged between 22 months and 3 years, located in six states including California, Texas, Florida, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Missouri. Additionally, CPSC has been informed of three other related incidents in 2011 and 2012.
Although there have been no reports of casualties in Canada, as a precautionary measure, Health Canada has initiated a recall simultaneously.
CPSC and Health Canada remind consumers to immediately check if their pool falls within the recall scope and promptly contact the manufacturer for a free repair kit. Until the repair is completed, children should be kept away from the pool or the pool water should be temporarily drained to ensure safety.
Bestway, Intex, and Polygroup are three internationally renowned manufacturers of outdoor assembled swimming pools and leisure products, focusing on affordability, easy assembly, and targeting the global household market.
Bestway, headquartered in Shanghai, China, specializes in water entertainment and outdoor products, with sales across more than a hundred countries; Intex, a subsidiary of the United Group based in California, United States, specializes in ground pools, air mattresses, and floating devices; Polygroup, originating from Hong Kong, initially produced Christmas decorations and later expanded into the outdoor seasonal products field.