Universal Security Instruments announced it is recalling combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms that were sold at Walmart because they may fail to alert users to high levels of carbon monoxide.
Carbon monoxide, also known as “CO,” is an odorless and colorless gas that can be lethal. Carbon monoxide is created anytime you use a car or a truck, small engines, grills, fireplaces, gas ranges, or furnaces, among other devices. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, each year more than 400 Americans die from unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning not linked to fires. More than 20,000 people visit the emergency room for carbon monoxide poisoning each year, and more than 4,000 are hospitalized.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Universal Security Instruments combination alarms pose a risk of death if they should fail and not sound an alarm when there are high levels of carbon monoxide present.
The recall involves both a wired combination alarm, model MPC122S, with a manufacturing date code of 2017JUN02, and also a battery-powered alarm, model MPC322S with a manufacturing date code of 2017JUNE09.
The company said it has received two reports of alarms that failed to go off despite the presence of carbon monoxide. No injuries have been reported.
Anyone with the alarm should contact Universal Security Instruments for a free replacement. Consumers are advised to keep using the recalled alarms until the new one is installed.
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