Health Canada has announced a recall for more than 260,000 above-ground swimming pools sold in Canada since the early 2000s. This action follows reports of nine drowning deaths involving children in the United States. An additional five million pools are also under a recall advisory in the U.S.

The recall affects various models from Bestway, Intex Recreation, and Polygroup, which have been sold by major retailers since 2002. Health Canada and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) have identified a safety concern with the pools. The compression straps on the outside of these pools may create a foothold for small children, allowing them to access the water without supervision. This poses a significant drowning risk, according to the regulators.

The CPSC has linked the nine drowning incidents to these pools, which occurred between 2007 and 2022. The victims were children aged between 22 months and three years. Health Canada has stated that there have been no reported incidents or injuries related to these pools in Canada.

Consumers who own these pools are urged to contact Bestway, Intex, or Polygroup to obtain a free repair kit. This kit will include a rope designed to replace the compression strap. In the meantime, pool owners should ensure that small children cannot access the pool without adult supervision. Alternatively, they may choose to drain the pool until the necessary repairs are made.

All recalled pools are 48 inches or taller and can be identified by their brand and model names, which are listed in the recall notices from both the CPSC and Health Canada. The pools have been sold in various locations, dating back to 2002 and extending to models available as recently as 2025. Approximately five million of these pools were sold in the U.S., including through major retailers such as Walmart, Target, Lowe’s, Costco, and Amazon. In Canada, about 266,000 pools are affected by this recall.