Several above-ground swimming pools are being recalled in Canada due to a risk of child drowning. Health Canada
Health Canada is recalling more than 200,000 above-ground swimming pools following reports of at least nine child drownings in the United States linked to a fault in the pools’ compression straps.
The recall affects three pool brands including Bestway, Intex, and Polygroup, and covers models dating back to 2006, according to a Health Canada advisory updated on July 21.
The recalled pools, which are 48 inches tall or more, have a compression strap around the legs that may act as a foothold, allowing children to climb in and access the pool unsupervised.
The companies have not received any reports of injuries or incidents in Canada as of July 17, the advisory notes.
However, in the United States, they have received nine reports of drowning between 2007 and 2022 involving children between the ages of 22 months and 3 years, as well as three reports of incidents in which children gained access to the pool using the compression strap.
The advisory affects roughly 266,000 units sold in Canada and approximately 5 million units sold in the United States.
It includes Bestway models such as Coleman Power Steel, Power Steel, and Steel Pro, sold between 2008 and 2024; Intex models known as Metal Frame Pools and Ultra Frame Pools, sold between 2003 and 2012; and Polygroup models including Outbound and Summer Waves, sold between 2015 and 2025, as well as the Summer Escapes model, sold between 2006 and 2015.
The product recall was issued jointly by Health Canada, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, and the three retailers.
Health Canada is advising users of the recalled products to contact the retailers and request a free repair kit consisting of a rope that surrounds the pool and attaches to each of the vertical support poles at the ground level. Users must install the repair, which will maintain the pool’s structural integrity, before removing the compression straps, according to the advisory.
In the meantime, users are urged to ensure children cannot access the pool unattended, or to drain the pool until the repair is installed.
Under the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act, recalled products cannot be distributed, sold, or given away.
Carolina Avendano has been a reporter with the Canadian edition of The Epoch Times since 2024.