Dangerous Design Fault in 5 Million Swimming Pools Leads to Large-Scale Recall
A recent recall has been issued for several popular brands of above-ground pools due to a potential drowning hazard for young children. The affected brands include Bestway, Coleman, Intex, and Polygroup, with pools sold nationwide in the U.S. since 2002, including at major retailers like Walmart, Target, Sears, Toys "R" Us, and online retailers like Amazon.
The recall targets pools that are 48 inches or taller and have compression straps running along the outside and over the vertical support legs. These straps can create a foothold, allowing children to climb into the pool even if the ladder is removed. As a result, about 266,000 of these pools were also sold in Canada.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) advises that families should ensure their children can't access the pool when unattended or simply drain the pool to prevent use until the repair kit is secured. The list of the recalled products can be found online, but specific model numbers for these brands are not detailed in the recall announcements.
Owners of the recalled pools are encouraged to contact Bestway, Intex, or Polygroup to receive a free repair kit designed to mitigate this risk. The repair involves attaching a rope to each of the vertical support poles at the ground level and then cutting and removing the hazardous compression straps. The repair kit contains a rope designed to wrap around the pool and attach to its vertical support poles at ground level, replacing the function of the compression straps.
It is essential to install the repair kit before cutting and removing the straps. The CPSC is reminding people to practice good pool safety, as about 350 children under five are estimated to die each year in the U.S. from drowning in pools.
[1] Recall Notice: Bestway Above Ground Pools, Intex Above Ground Pools, and Polygroup Above Ground Pools (CPSC) [2] Recall Notice: Coleman Above Ground Pools (CPSC) [3] Recall Information: Intex Above Ground Pools (Intex)
- The future of health and wellness for families may be significantly impacted by the recent recall of certain above-ground pools due to a safety hazard.
- For those concerned about their health, it's important to stay updated on science and technology in areas like health-and-wellness, such as the current recall of popular brands of above-ground pools.
- Gizmodo, a leading technology and science publication, may provide valuable insights into the latest recall of above-ground pools, with details on the repair kit offered by Intex for their affected models.
