NEW YORK CITY, New York: A decades-long safety risk has triggered a significant recall of more than 5.2 million aboveground swimming pools sold in the U.S. and Canada, after federal officials linked the products to nine child drowning deaths.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Health Canada announced the recall on Monday, warning that specific models of aboveground pools — sold by Bestway, Intex Recreation, and Polygroup — contain external compression straps that can act as footholds. Regulators say this design flaw allows young children to climb into the water unsupervised, posing a serious drowning hazard.

The affected pools were sold at major retailers, including Walmart, Target, Lowe's, Costco, and Amazon. Sales began in 2002 and continued as recently as 2025.

At least nine children in the U.S., ranging in age from 22 months to three years, drowned between 2007 and 2022 after gaining access to the recalled pools, according to the CPSC. No deaths have been reported in Canada, but roughly 266,000 of the recalled pools were sold there. About 5 million were sold in the U.S.

The recall covers a wide range of aboveground pool models that are all 48 inches or taller and equipped with compression straps around the exterior. These straps are intended for structural support but can also be used by children to climb into the pool when no adults are present.

Regulators are urging owners of the recalled pools to act immediately. Consumers are advised to contact Bestway, Intex, or Polygroup to request a free repair kit. The kit includes a rope that replaces the existing compression strap to remove the foothold risk.

Until the repair is made, officials emphasize that pool owners should either prevent children from having unsupervised access to the water or drain the pool altogether.

Detailed identification guidance, including specific brand and model names, is available on both the CPSC and Health Canada websites.

"Small children are naturally curious and can be drawn to water," regulators noted. "It's critical to remove any unintended means of access and always supervise children around pools."

The recall is one of the most significant pool-related safety actions in North America in recent years and comes amid heightened awareness about childhood drownings. According to the CPSC, drowning remains a leading cause of unintentional death among children ages 1 to 4.

Bestway, Intex, and Polygroup are cooperating with the recall and offering support to affected consumers. Owners who believe they may have one of the recalled models are encouraged to visit the manufacturers' websites or the government recall pages for further instructions on claiming the free repair kit.

With summer temperatures rising and backyard pool usage at its peak, regulators are reminding all pool owners — even those with unaffected models — to maintain multiple layers of safety, including barriers, alarms, and direct supervision.