Products Liability Law Daily Wrap Up, CPSC NEWS—SPORTS AND RECREATIONAL EQUIPMENT—CPSC grants petition on child-resistant pool ladders amid drowning concerns, (Jun 5, 2026)

By WK Editorial Staff

Agency staff identified 128 child drowning deaths between 2020 and 2025 linked to pool ladders.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has granted a petition seeking action on child-resistant pool ladders for aboveground and portable pools, Acting Chairman Peter A. Feldman announced, as the agency intensifies its focus on reducing drowning risks among young children. The decision directs CPSC staff to further evaluate safety standards and collaborate with industry and safety stakeholders to address gaps in existing requirements (CPSC News Release, No. 26-535 (June 3, 2026)).

According to Feldman’s statement, drowning remains the leading cause of death for children ages one through four in the United States. He said the agency is renewing its focus on water-safety hazards and will use its authorities and resources to address risks associated with pool design, access points, entrapment hazards, and other conditions that may allow unsupervised child access to water. The grant of Petition CP 25-2 is part of a broader effort by the Commission to address these issues.

CPSC staff identified 128 reported fatal drowning incidents involving children under five between 2020 and 2025 in cases where pool ladders were reported or believed to have been used to enter aboveground or portable pools.

Feldman stated that current standards do not provide a measurable or objective definition of what constitutes a child-resistant ladder, describing this as a gap that needs to be addressed. In response, the Commission has directed staff to continue working with ASTM International, the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA), medical experts, consumer advocates, and industry stakeholders to develop performance requirements, objective measures of child resistance, and improved warnings intended to increase consumer awareness and use of safety features.

The Commission indicated it expects progress on these efforts to move forward promptly and produce meaningful results. If sufficient progress is not achieved, mandatory federal requirements remain under consideration, Feldman noted.

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