[leadin]Cascade Designs, parent company of Mountain Safety Research, today announced the recall of about 2,000 avalanche probes sold in the United States and Canada.[/leadin]
According to the recall, the MSR Striker 320 and Striker 240 avalanche rescue probes have a potential malfunction that could lead to problems when trying to find a person buried in snow.
The probes in question were sold from September 2014 through January 2016 for between $60 – $70.
According to the brand:
The probe is divided into six or eight sections of 18-inch aluminum shafts that lock into place to create a single 94-inch or 126-inch probe, depending on the model. The probe is used by searchers to help identify something or someone buried by snow after an avalanche. “Striker 320” is printed on the red and gray probe and “Striker 240” is printed on the yellow and gray probe. “MSR” is printed on the shaft.
The lock button on the probe can fail to engage and lock, causing the probe not to function as intended. This can interfere with finding someone buried beneath snow, posing a suffocation hazard.
No injuries have been reported, but owners of these probes are warned to stop using them and call Cascade Designs for instructions on receiving a refund or free replacement probe. Call at (800) 531-9531 from 8am-5pm PST Monday through Friday or learn more online here.
