One of the consequences of information overload is that we tend to miss mission-critical items. Emails flood our inboxes, and its nearly impossible to stay on top of what immediately impacts us. Even those who go out of their way to be prepared for fire safety could miss a potential risk — recent fire safety recalls include basic fire prevention items such as smoke alarms and fire extinguishers made by respected brands. Think you're covered? You may need to think again.

Don't let fire safety suffer because you didn't see an important recall. Check your fire safety devices to confirm they are not subject to any of these recent recalls.

Here are four major recent recalls for fire safety devices that you should know about:

Recall Item #1: Kidde Smoke / CO Alarm *NEW update*

Recall item: Kidde hard-wired smoke and combination smoke/carbon monoxide (CO) alarms.

Description: White, round alarms, 5-6 inches in diameter, bear brand name "Kidde" on the front.

Units affected: 670,000 in U.S. and 148,000 in Canada.

Model number/s: (locate on back of device)

• Residential smoke alarm model i12010S-CA with manufacture dates between March 11, 2014 and May 13, 2014, UPC code: 0-47871-10608-0
• Combination smoke/CO alarm i12010S-CO-CA with manufacture dates between March 14, 2014 and June 6, 2014, UPC code: 0-47871-10607-3
• Combination smoke/CO alarm model KN-COSM-IBACA with manufacture date between November 19, 2013 and May 13, 2014, UPC code: 0-47871-00119-4

Recall date: September 11, 2014, expanded August 19, 2015

Recall reason: Alarms could fail to alert consumers of a fire or CO incident after a power outage.

Remedy: Contact Kidde for a free replacement alarm of like kind.

Manufacturer: Fyrnetics Ltd. (China), Distributed by Kidde Canada Inc., Vaughan, Ontario.

Contact for more information: Call Kidde Canada toll-free at (888) 784-2323 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET M-F.

Source: HealthyCanadians.gc.ca

Recall Item #2: Interlogix & ESL Security System Smoke Detectors

Recall item: ESL and Interlogix brand smoke detectors (400 and 500 series) used in residential and commercial properties serviced by Chubb Edwards and other security equipment dealers and distributors across Canada.

Description: 2-wire and 4-wire models of 400 and 500 series ESL and Interlogix smoke detectors. Initials ESL are printed on the back of the smoke detector cover.

Units affected: 141,000 in U.S. and 13,000 in Canada.

Model number/s: (On back of device along with date code)

• 400 Series, with manufacturing date codes 13084 to 14059 (March 25, 2013 to February 28, 2014): 429AT, 429C, 429CAD, 429CRT, 429CST, 429CT, 429CTAD, 449AT, 449C, 449CRT, 449CSRH, 449CSRT, 449CST, 449CSTE, 449CT and 449CTE.

• 500 Series, with manufacturing date codes 13084 to 14059 (March 25, 2013 to February 28, 2014): 511C, 518C, 521B, 521BXT, 521B-10PKDMP, 521B-10PKG, 521BXT-10PKG, 521BXT-DMP-10PKG, 528B, 528CRXT, 541C, 541C-10PKG, 541CXT, 541-CXT-10PK, 548C, C2M-PD, C2M-PD1, C2M-PDC, C2M-PDHC and C2M-PDHRC.

Recall date: August 13, 2014

Recall reason: Smoke detectors may become non-responsive to smoke due to radio frequency interference.

Remedy: Do not remove or disable your unit. If you believe you have a professionally-installed detector that may be part of this recall, contact the provider who installed your system to confirm what detectors your system uses, or contact Interlogix. Affected smoke detectors will be replaced free of charge.

Manufacturer: Fyrnetics Ltd. (China)

Contact for more information: Contact your system provider, or contact Interlogix toll free at 1-855-286-8889 between 5:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. PT, M-F, or visit  Interlogix's website and click "Customer Service." 

Source: HealthyCanadians.gc.ca

Recall Item #3: Nest Labs' Nest Protect Smoke + CO Alarms

Recall item: Nest Protect: Smoke + CO Alarm

Description: These units are either black or white plastic, 5.25" square with rounded corners and 1.5" deep. The brand name "nest" is visible on a large button on the front of the alarm.

Units affected: 200,000 in U.S. and 31,000 in Canada, sold between November 17, 2013 and April 3, 2014 through both online and brick retailers and distributors, including AARtech Canada Inc., AVAD Distributors Canada, Best Buy Canada Ltd., Home Depot Canada, JumpPlus.com, Lowe's Companies, Inc. (Canada), Servie Experts - Canada, and Synnex Canada, Ltd.

Model number/s: 

• S1002LB and S1002LW (120V)
• S1002BB and S1002BW (battery)

Recall date: May 30, 2014

Recall reason: Nest Labs has identified a situation where activity near the product during a fire can prevent the alarm from immediately sounding when the Nest Wave feature is enabled. This feature allows consumers to temporarily silence some alerts or cancel a manual test by vigorously waving an arm near the unit that triggered the alarm. Nest Protect Smoke + CO alarms came from the factory with the Nest Wave feature enabled.

Remedy: An automatic repair was introduced on April 2, 2014. If you are connected to a wireless network and have a linked Nest account, the update should have been delivered wirelessly already to automatically disable the Nest Wave feature on your unit. You do not need to return your unit for repair but you should confirm that your device was updated. Find step-by-step instructions to do that here. 

Manufacturer: Nest Labs of Palo Alto, CA, United States. Manufactured in China.

Contact for more information: Contact Nest Labs by telephone at 1-800-249-4280 or Nest's website for a full refund. 

Source: HealthyCanadians.gc.ca

Recall Item #4: Kidde Plastic Valve Disposable Fire Extinguishers

Recall item: Kidde and Garrison branded disposable fire extinguishers with a black plastic Zytel® Nylon valve.

Description: These units are either red or white and either ABC or BC-rated.The nameplate will bear either the Kidde or Garrison logo and serial number. Look for the date code which is a 10-digit number stamped on the side of the extinguisher, near the bottom. Digits 5-9 indicate date of manufacture.

    For example:

• XXXX20143X through XXXX36513X for affected units manufactured in 2013
• XXXX00114X through XXXX28814X for affected units manufactured in 2014

Units affected: 175,000 sold in Canada, manufactured between July 23, 2013 and October 15, 2014  and sold between August 2013 and November 2014 at various retailers, including Home Depot, Menards, Walmart and online, among others. 

Model number/s: 

• Kidde 1A 10BC
• Kidde 1A 10BCW
• Kidde 2A 10BC
• Garrison 2A 10BC
• Garrison 5BC
• Kidde 5BC
• Kidde 5BCW
• Kidde 10BC
• Kidde FC110

Note that a recall for the same issue on February 12, 2015 published by U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission included these additional model numbers:

• Kidde 5 BC
• Kidde BCW
• Kidde FA10G
• Kidde FA110
• Kidde FA5B
• Kidde FC10
• Kidde FC110
• Kidde FC5
• Kidde FH/ RESSP
• Kidde FX10
• Kidde FX10BC
• Kidde FX10K
• Kidde FX210
• Kidde FX210R
• Kidde FX210W
• Kidde FX340GW
• Kidde FX340SC
• Kidde FX5II
• Kidde KFH Twin
• Kidde M110 Twin
• Kidde M5 Twin
• Kidde Mariner 10
• Kidde Mariner 110
• Kidde Mariner 5
• Kidde Mariner 5 G
• Kidde RESSP
• Kidde XL 5MR

Recall date: February 6, 2015  

Recall reason: The disposable fire extinguishers may not fully discharge as designed when the lever is pressed and released multiple times.  This defect is caused by an out-of-specification valve component.

Remedy: Contact Kidde Canada immediately for a free replacement extinguisher.

Manufacturer: Kidde Matamoros, S. de R. L. de C.V., Tamps, Mexico. Manufactured in Mexico. Distributed by Walter Kidde Portable Equipment Company, Inc. in Mebane, North Carolina, United States.

Contact for more information: Contact Kidde Canada toll-free at 1-844-833-6394 between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. EST Monday through Friday or at Kidde Canada's website by clicking on Product Alerts.

Source: HealthyCanadians.gc.ca

You may also be interested in these recalls: 

• Metalux and Utilitech fluorescent shoplights, striplights and wraparound lights recalled by Cooper Lighting
• Fifty-gallon propane fueled residential water heaters recalled by John Wood
• Single- and dual-purpose Coaire and Quietside brand tankless gas water heaters recalled by Daesung Celtic Enersys
• Garrison, Maison, NOMA, RONA and UPM branded line voltage thermostats

Visit HealthyCanadians for additional recalls on everything from mattresses, fireplaces, lighting, recliners, dishwashers and air purifiers to iphone chargers.

You may also be interested in reading:

• Fire Extinguishers in the Workplace: Selection and Maintenance
• What You Need to Know About LED Safety Lights for Your Business

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Image credits: Girl on yellow © massonforstock / 123RF Stock Photo, others via Canva, all modified by resizing and text overlay.