Gear Used To Locate Skiers In Avalanche Recalled; 1 Death Reported

Black Diamond is recalling its PIEPS DSP Pro, DSP Pro Ice and DSP Sport avalanche transceivers, which are used to locate skiers in an avalanche. They can switch modes "unexpectedly," making it harder to locate skiers in an avalanche emergency.

"The reason for the recall is that the transceiver can switch modes unexpectedly when not locked or installed in the harness," the recall alert posted on the Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC) website noted. "When this occurs, it will prevent the transceiver from transmitting a signal and can make it difficult to locate a skier in an avalanche, which can result in severe bodily harm or death."

Such gears are essential in snowy areas. According to Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI), an American retail and outdoor recreation services corporation, when skiers get buried in an avalanche, the avalanche transceivers they are carrying continuously emit radio signals to be picked up by other transceivers in "search" mode, making it easier to locate and rescue them. This is why it is imperative for transceivers to always be in "send" or "transmit" mode because the skier might not be able to switch modes if they become buried or immobilized by an avalanche.

"Survival literally depends on how quickly rescuers can pinpoint and excavate a buried avalanche victim," REI stressed.

Black Diamond has so far received over 60 reports of the mode switching issue. In Canada, where some 12,500 units of the item were sold, there was one report of a skier who died and another who suffered minor injuries after getting caught in an avalanche. Both incidents happened in British Columbia.

In total, the recall affects about 66,100 units of the avalanche transceivers, including the ones sold in Canada, the company said. It also provided images and specific model numbers of the affected products, which were sold from January 2013 to November 2020.

Those who have the product are being advised to stop using them and contact Black Diamond to get a free replacement hardcase. They can register to get the replacement here.

It was recently reported that the 2020-2021 avalanche season in the U.S. was among the deadliest on record, during which over 30 people had reportedly died. This was partly because the climate had led to a weak snowpack at the bottom and because the COVID-19 pandemic made people want to go "off the grid."