First Alert® ONELINK™ Battery-Powered Smoke and Combination Smoke/Carbon Monoxide (CO) Alarms

CPSC Recall #06-151 — May 1, 2006

Recall Summary

Recall Number06-151
Recall DateMay 1, 2006
Remedy TypeReplace
Units AffectedAbout 145,890 (About 52,400 were sold to consumers)
ManufacturerBRK Brands Inc., a subsidiary of First Alert Inc., of Aurora, Ill.
Manufactured InMexico

Where It Was Sold

Department
home and hardware stores nationwide from June 2005 through March 2006 for between $45 and $75.

Product

First Alert® ONELINK™ Battery-Powered Smoke and Combination Smoke/Carbon Monoxide (CO) Alarms

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), BRK Brands Inc., a subsidiary of First Alert Inc., of Aurora, Ill., is voluntarily recalling about 145,890 First Alert® ONELINK™ Battery-Powered Smoke and Combination Smoke/Carbon Monoxide (CO) Alarms (about 52,400 were sold to consumers). These alarms can drain the power from batteries rapidly, causing premature low battery power. Consumers will be alerted to the low battery power and the need to replace the battery by a chirping of the unit. If the batteries on the smoke/CO alarm are not replaced before the battery power terminates, the alarm will not detect smoke in the event of a possible fire and the presence of carbon monoxide.Name of Product: First Alert® ONELINK™ Battery-Powered Smoke and Combination Smoke/Carbon Monoxide (CO) AlarmsUnits: About 145,890 (About 52,400 were sold to consumers)Manufacturer: BRK Brands Inc., a subsidiary of First Alert Inc., of Aurora, Ill.Hazard: These alarms can drain the power from batteries rapidly, causing premature low battery power. Consumers will be alerted to the low battery power and the need to replace the battery by a chirping of the unit. If the batteries on the smoke/CO alarm are not replaced before the battery power terminates, the alarm will not detect smoke in the event of a possible fire and the presence of carbon monoxide.Incidents/Injuries: CPSC and First Alert Inc./BRK Brands Inc. have received about 329 reports of premature low battery power in these alarms. There have been no reports of injuries, incidents or alarms failing to detect smoke or carbon monoxide.Description: The recall involves ONELINK™ battery-powered smoke and combination smoke/CO alarms. "First Alert" and "ONELINK™" are printed on the front of the alarm. The model number and date code are printed on the back of the alarm. Model number SA500 or SCO500 with a date code prior to March 3, 2006 are included in this recall.Sold at: Department, home and hardware stores nationwide from June 2005 through March 2006 for between $45 and $75.Manufactured In: MexicoRemedy: Consumers should contact First Alert Inc./BRK Brands Inc. immediately to receive a replacement alarm. Until a new alarm is received, consumers should test the batteries in the alarm weekly by pressing the "test" button. If the alarm signals a low battery alert, consumers should immediately replace the batteries. Consumers should not remove their alarms until they have received a replacement alarm.Consumer Contact: For more information, contact First Alert Inc./BRK Brands Inc. at (800) 323-9005 between 8:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm's web site at www.firstalert.com.

Hazard

These alarms can drain the power from batteries rapidly, causing premature low battery power. Consumers will be alerted to the low battery power and the need to replace the battery by a chirping of the unit. If the batteries on the smoke/CO alarm are not replaced before the battery power terminates, the alarm will not detect smoke in the event of a possible fire and the presence of carbon monoxide.

Incidents & Injuries

CPSC and First Alert Inc./BRK Brands Inc. have received about 329 reports of premature low battery power in these alarms. There have been no reports of injuries, incidents or alarms failing to detect smoke or carbon monoxide.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should contact First Alert Inc./BRK Brands Inc. immediately to receive a replacement alarm. Until a new alarm is received, consumers should test the batteries in the alarm weekly by pressing the "test" button. If the alarm signals a low battery alert, consumers should immediately replace the batteries. Consumers should not remove their alarms until they have received a replacement alarm.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Replace 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 (Replace) 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.