EVAC-U8™ and EVAC+™ Emergency Escape Smoke Hoods

CPSC Recall #06-144 — April 19, 2006

Recall Summary

Recall Number06-144
Recall DateApril 19, 2006
Remedy TypeDispose, No Remedy Available
Units AffectedAbout 290,000 units
ManufacturerBrookdale International Systems Inc., of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Manufactured InCanada

Where It Was Sold

Web sites
safety products retailers
catalogs
and travel stores from September 2000 through March 2006 for about $75 for the "EVAC-U8™" and about $150 for the "EVAC+™."

Product

EVAC-U8™ and EVAC+™ Emergency Escape Smoke Hoods

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. -  In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Brookdale International Systems Inc., of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, is voluntarily recalling about 290,000 EVAC-U8™ and EVAC+™ Emergency Escape Smoke Hoods. The emergency escape smoke hoods could fail to work properly, exposing the user to harmful carbon monoxide which could seriously compromise their ability to escape the fire threat.Name of Product: EVAC-U8™ and EVAC+™ Emergency Escape Smoke HoodsUnits: About 290,000 unitsManufacturer: Brookdale International Systems Inc., of Vancouver, British Columbia, CanadaHazard: The emergency escape smoke hoods could fail to work properly, exposing the user to harmful carbon monoxide which could seriously compromise their ability to escape the fire threat.Incidents/Injuries: None.Description and Models: These smoke hoods are one-time use respiratory devices that assist users with breathing while escaping a fire. They include a transparent plastic hood that covers the user's head, and a canister that filters out toxic gases. "EVAC+™" or "EVAC-U8™" is printed on the canister.Sold at: Web sites, safety products retailers, catalogs, and travel stores from September 2000 through March 2006 for about $75 for the "EVAC-U8™" and about $150 for the "EVAC+™."Manufactured In: CanadaRemedy: The firm is out of business and a remedy is no longer available. Consumers should stop using the smoke hood devices and immediately dispose of the product. 

Hazard

The emergency escape smoke hoods could fail to work properly, exposing the user to harmful carbon monoxide which could seriously compromise their ability to escape the fire threat.

Incidents & Injuries

None.

Remedy Instructions

Note: The firm is out of business and a remedy is no longer available. Consumers should stop using the smoke hood devices and immediately dispose of the product.

What Should You Do?

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

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 (Dispose, No Remedy Available) 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.