Health Canada recalls avalanche transceiver it says may fail during emergencies

Health Canada has recalled an avalanche transceiver it says has the potential to malfunction and fail during emergencies. (Supplied/Health Canada)

Health Canada is recalling a certain avalanche transceiver it says may suffer a signal failure during emergencies.

The agency says the recall is for the Black Diamond Recon LT avalanche transceiver, which was sold on its own as well as in two avalanche safety sets; the BD Alpine Avy Safety Set and the BD Recon LT Avy Safety Set.

The affected products were manufactured and sold between June 2021 and February 2025. The first four digits of the serial numbers on the defective products are between 2040 and 2321.

“The devices are worn by skiers, snowboarders and snowmobilers to aid search and rescue should they or their partners become buried in an avalanche,” Health Canada said in its advisory.

“The metal contact in the switch mechanism of the Recon LT avalanche transceiver can corrode, potentially causing it to malfunction or turn off, which can cause delayed search and rescue operations in the case of an avalanche.”

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The agency has not received any reports of incident or injuries in Canada or the U.S. connected to the recalled devices, but there have been six reports of them malfunction or turning off in Europe.

None of those reports involved injuries.

Health Canada says 206 transceivers were sold in Canada and 1,661 were sold in the U.S.

It advises all consumers to immediately stop using the recalled transceiver and return the product to the manufacturer for repair, exchange or refund.

For more information, consumers can contact Black Diamond Equipment by telephone toll-free at 1-866-306-0865, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. M.T., Monday through Friday, by email at [e-mail] or visit the company website.