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Plus 10® Fire Escape Hoods

CPSC Recall #03-551 — September 7, 2003

Recall Summary

Recall Number03-551
Recall DateSeptember 7, 2003
Remedy TypeRefund
Units Affected2,000
ManufacturerEssex PB&R Corp, of Edwardsville, Ill.
Manufactured InUnited States

Where It Was Sold

Websites and independent distributors sold these fire escape hoods nationwide from January 1993 through August 2003 for about $150.

Product

Plus 10® Fire Escape Hoods

Description

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Essex PB&R Corp, of Edwardsville, Ill., is voluntarily recalling 2,000 Plus 10® Fire Escape Hoods. These fire escape hoods do not provide protection against certain chemical warfare agents (Sarin, Tabum and Soman), as previously claimed in marketing materials and on the firm's Web site. The product can still be used as an escape filter hood in fire and smoke emergencies. Name of Product: Plus 10® Fire Escape HoodsUnits: 2,000Manufacturer: Essex PB&R Corp, of Edwardsville, Ill.Hazard: These fire escape hoods do not provide protection against certain chemical warfare agents (Sarin, Tabum and Soman), as previously claimed in marketing materials and on the firm's website. The product can still be used as an escape filter hood in fire and smoke emergencies.Incidents/Injuries: None reported.Description: These fire escape hoods are sold as "Plus 10® Filter Breathing Unit." The hoods are sealed inside foil bags with blue and white labels on them listing the product name and reading, in part, "It's not just ten minutes of air. It's a lifetime." The foil bags are stored inside blue, zippered, nylon pouches.Sold At: Websites and independent distributors sold these fire escape hoods nationwide from January 1993 through August 2003 for about $150.Manufactured In: U.S.A.Remedy: If consumers purchased the fire escape hoods for protection against chemical warfare agents, they can return it to Essex PB&R Corp for a refund.Consumer Contact: Essex PB&R Corp. at (800) 296-7587 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. CT Monday through Friday.

Hazard

These fire escape hoods do not provide protection against certain chemical warfare agents (Sarin, Tabum and Soman), as previously claimed in marketing materials and on the firm's website. The product can still be used as an escape filter hood in fire and smoke emergencies.

Incidents & Injuries

None reported.

Remedy Instructions

If consumers purchased the fire escape hoods for protection against chemical warfare agents, they can return it to Essex PB&R Corp for a refund.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Refund at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Follow the consumer action instructions in the recall notice above. Most recalls require you to stop using the product and contact the manufacturer directly — either by calling the toll-free number listed in the official CPSC notice or by visiting the manufacturer's website. You generally do not need a receipt or original packaging to claim a remedy. The manufacturer is legally required to provide the remedy (Refund) at no cost to you.

If the product caused a fire or burn injury, document the incident with photos and preserve the product if it is safe to do so. Report the incident to the CPSC at SaferProducts.gov and to your local fire department. Contact the manufacturer to inform them of the incident — they are required to track and report injuries to CPSC. You may also want to consult a personal injury attorney, as fire and burn injuries caused by defective products can be grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer.

In most cases, no. CPSC-coordinated recall remedies are designed to be accessible without proof of purchase. Manufacturers typically ask consumers to self-certify ownership and may ask for photos of the product or its serial number. Some manufacturers request that you mail in a portion of the product (such as a cut cord or removed component) as proof of disposal. Check the specific remedy instructions for this recall for exact requirements. If you registered your product at the time of purchase, the process is usually even simpler.

If the original manufacturer has gone out of business, the recall remedy may no longer be available through them. In this case, contact CPSC directly at 1-800-638-2772 or cpsc.gov for guidance. If the brand was acquired by another company, the acquiring company may have assumed recall obligations. In some cases where a remedy is unavailable, CPSC advises consumers to safely dispose of the product. If you were injured by the product of a defunct company, consult a product liability attorney — parent companies, distributors, and retailers may still bear liability in some circumstances.

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