The deaths of nine children from 2007 to 2022 sparked a mass recall of more than 5 million above-ground pools from major retailers nationwide.
The list of retailers whose products have been recalled includes Bestway, Intex, and Polygroup. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) believes that the fatalities of kids between 22 months and three years were due to them gaining access to the pools through footholds that were created by the products' compression straps.
Millions of Above-Ground Pools Recalled Following Children's Deaths
The children who died were from different states across the country, including California, Florida, Michigan, Missouri, Texas, and Wisconsin. The CPSC added that there were three other incidents that took place in 2011 and 2012, where kids who were able to access the pools previously reported using the compression straps to get inside.
The mass recall affects specific above-ground pools that various major retailers have sold since 2002. The items that were called back are 48 inches or taller and are equipped with compression straps that run along the outside of the product and over the vertical support legs, according to ABC News.
The controversial compression strap can be used as a foothold and gives a child a means to climb into the pool other than the ladder. This is something that poses a risk, as younger kids can drown after getting into the water, even after the ladder has been removed.
Bestway, Intex, and Polygroup released a statement, saying they have a "shared commitment to customer safety." The companies added that more modern above-ground pools that are 48 inches or taller have already addressed the concern of the compression strap.
Getting a Free Repair Kit
Following the mass recall announcement, those who own the above-ground pools are urged to immediately contact one of the companies to receive a free repair kit. The package includes a rope to replace the compression strap and remove the risk of children using it as a foothold, CNN reported.
Owners who choose not to get the free repair kit should ensure that small children have access to the pool without supervision. Alternatively, the companies urge that families drain the pool when it is not in use.
The situation comes as drowning is the leading cause of death for young children aged one to four, and roughly 87% of these fatalities occur in home pools or hot tubs. The majority of these tragedies happen in pools that are owned by family, friends, or relatives, as per the Los Angeles Times.
