Wild Country-brand Helium carabiners used in rock climbing

CPSC Recall #04-219 — September 20, 2004

Recall Summary

Recall Number04-219
Recall DateSeptember 20, 2004
Remedy TypeReplace
Units AffectedAbout 1,000
ManufacturerDMM Engineering, of Gwynedd, U.K.
ImporterExcalibur Distribution, of Sandy, Utah
Manufactured InUnited Kingdom

Where It Was Sold

Recreational sports stores nationwide from April 2004 through July 2004 for between $11 and $25.

Product

Wild Country-brand Helium carabiners used in rock climbing

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), DMM Engineering, of Gwynedd, U.K. is voluntarily recalling about 1,000 Wild Country-brand Helium carabiners. The carabiner gate may come open under a heavy load, which will significantly reduce the strength of the carabiner. The carabiner could break if the climber falls, posing a risk of serious injury or death to the climber.Name of product: Wild Country-brand Helium carabiners used in rock climbingUnits: About 1,000Manufacturer: DMM Engineering, of Gwynedd, U.K.Supplier: Wild Country Ltd., of Tideswell, Derbyshire, U.K.Importer: Excalibur Distribution, of Sandy, UtahHazard: The carabiner gate may come open under a heavy load, which will significantly reduce the strength of the carabiner. The carabiner could break if the climber falls, posing a risk of serious injury or death to the climber.Incidents/Injuries: None reportedDescription: These are Wild Country-brand carabiners sold under the following model names: Helium Dyneema, Helium DYN QD 5 X 13, Helium Clean Wire, and Oxygen-Helium. They are marked with batch codes AAA, AAB, AAC, AAD, AAE, and AAF. "Wild Country" and the model name are written on the carabiners.Sold at: Recreational sports stores nationwide from April 2004 through July 2004 for between $11 and $25.Manufactured in: United KingdomRemedy: Consumer should call the firm for instructions on returning these carabiners. The firm will reimburse shipping expenses and send the consumer a replacement.Consumer Contact: Call Wild Country toll free at (800) 997- HELI between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. MT Monday through Friday or visit the firm's website at www.wildcountry.co.uk. 

Hazard

The carabiner gate may come open under a heavy load, which will significantly reduce the strength of the carabiner. The carabiner could break if the climber falls, posing a risk of serious injury or death to the climber.

Incidents & Injuries

None reported

Remedy Instructions

Consumer should call the firm for instructions on returning these carabiners. The firm will reimburse shipping expenses and send the consumer a replacement.

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.

Furniture tip-overs are a leading cause of pediatric injuries in the U.S., particularly dressers, bookcases, and television stands. CPSC data shows that a child dies approximately every two weeks from a furniture or TV tip-over. Unstable high chairs, baby swings, and bouncers are also frequent recall subjects due to fall risks. ASTM International standards now require that certain furniture must meet tip-over resistance standards, and CPSC has been actively pursuing mandatory requirements for dressers and chests. If you have furniture that was not recalled but feels unstable, wall-anchoring kits are widely available at hardware stores.

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.