Alert on the safety of above-ground swimming pools: three brands in the sights of fraud repression

Parents, beware of the risk of drowning. As the summer season and long weekends approach, the General Directorate for Competition and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) is warning of a defect spotted on several models of so-called “above-ground” swimming pools, these pools that are easy to install in your garden, without having to dig into the ground.

The equipment in question is oval and round tubular swimming pools at least 1.22 m high, from the brands Bestway, Intex and Polygroup, which were marketed until the summer of 2025. These pools are equipped with retaining straps – like large belts that go around them – outside the vertical metal bars.

This creates, indicates the DGCCRF, “an easy hold for a young child”: “Even if the ladder is removed, a child can use it to climb and thus accidentally fall into the water”. The analysis carried out by the fraud prevention services concluded that there was a safety defect likely to cause drownings.

A security kit available on request

The manufacturers concerned have modified the design of the models put on the market since the beginning of 2026. If, on the other hand, you purchased a swimming pool of this type last year or in previous years, equipped with a retaining strap at child height, you can order a free safety kit to install on your pool.

To do this, simply contact the customer service of your equipment brand and tell them which model you have. Contact details are available on the manufacturers’ websites. In the meantime, act with caution: it is advisable to empty your swimming pool to avoid any accidents.

Never leave your children unsupervised

Let us remember in passing that the best safety equipment in the world does not exempt you from monitoring your children when they are near a pool and even more so when they are swimming in it. This is undoubtedly the best way to avoid accidents, which unfortunately are still too numerous. During the summer of 2025, 22% of drowning deaths among those under 18 took place in a private family swimming pool, according to data from Public Health France.

A few simple prevention rules can also be useful: remove the exterior ladder accessing the pool and put away the floating toys, which are so tempting, after each swim; equip children with armbands or swimsuits adapted to their height and weight, and obviously teach them to swim and float as soon as possible.

Even if above-ground swimming pools are not subject to the same obligations as in-ground swimming pools, nothing prevents you from taking a few additional precautions. You can add a removable barrier around the pool, a fall detection alarm, or even a protective tarpaulin to cover it when not in use.