Warning: Millions of Pools Recalled After Child Deaths, Including Michigan

Having a pool in the backyard is awesome… but let’s be real here, it comes with a lot of responsibility, especially if you have kids or live in a neighborhood with kids. I mean, it’s not just your kids you have to worry about when you own a pool.

That’s why this recall is so important. Millions of above-ground pools are being pulled from the market after nine young children drowned, including one here in Michigan. The issue? A crazy design flaw that makes it way too easy for kids to climb in, even if the ladder’s been removed.

When looking at the pool below, it’s hard to believe this slipped by their design teams. Seriously. The strap just looks like part of the pool, but to a toddler, it’s basically a step. And unfortunately, that’s exactly how some kids managed to get in.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, recalled pools are from big names like Bestway, Intex, and Polygroup. They were sold across the U.S. between 2007 and 2022, in stores and online, and ranged from about $400 to over $1,000.

Tragically, the CPSC says nine kids between 22 months and 3 years old drowned in these types of pools between 2007 and 2022. The deaths happened in California, Texas, Florida, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Missouri. There were also a few close calls where kids managed to get into the pools using the strap but didn’t drown.

If you’ve got one of these pools, don’t wait. The CPSC says to reach out to the manufacturer for a free repair kit. It comes with a rope that does the same job as the strap, but it sits at ground level. Once it’s in place, you’re supposed to cut the strap off completely.

I still can't believe they didn't catch this sooner.