Avalanche Airbags Recalled by Snowpulse Due to Risk of Injury

News provided by

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Aug 30, 2012, 02:00 ET

WASHINGTON, Aug. 30, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20030904/USCSCLOGO)

Name of product: Snowpulse Avalanche Airbags
Units: About 1,200 in the United States and 2,600 in Canada
Importer: Mammut Sports Group Inc., of Shelburne, Vt.
Manufacturer: Snowpulse SA, of Martigny, Switzerland
Distributor: Mountain Sports Distribution, of Golden British Columbia, Canada
Hazard: A leak in the airbag's cartridge can result in the airbag not deploying, posing a risk of death and injury in the event of an avalanche.
Incidents/Injuries: None reported.
Description: This recall involves Snowpulse Avalanche airbags with inflation-system 1.0 air cartridges. The airbags are used for skiing, snowmobiling and mountain climbing to help keep the user above the surface if an avalanche occurs. Model year 2008 to 2010 airbag cartridges are included in this recall. The packs are between 15 and 45 liters and have the "Snowpulse" logo printed on them. The metal cartridge is inside the pack and unscrews from the airbag. Cartridges using inflation system 1.0 gauges can be identified by the pin inside the threaded fitting on the side of the cartridge. If this gauge does not have an "A" or a "B" on the dial then it is included in the recall.
Sold by: Specialty outdoor and motorsports stores nationwide from September 2008 through April 2012 for between $900 and $1,200.
Manufactured in: Switzerland
Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled airbags and contact Snowpulse for a replacement cartridge.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Snowpulse at (800) 451-5127 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's website at www.snowpulse.com.

Note: Health Canada's press release is available at http://cpsr-rspc.hc-sc.gc.ca/PR-RP/recall-retrait-eng.jsp?re_id=1653.

Photos available at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml12/12268.html

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. Please tell us about your experience with the product on SaferProducts.gov

Firm's Recall Hotline: (800) 451-5127
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908
HC Media Contact: (613) 957-2983

SOURCE U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission