Personal Emergency Reporting System Recall: Battery Problems

Following a report of a failed call for assistance, about 48,000 personal emergency assistance transmitters were recalled yesterday due to battery problems that could cause a delay in emergency response in life threatening situations.  

The Linear Personal Emergency Reporting System (PERS) Transmitters recall was announced by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) on December 9, following a report that indicated the transmitter failed to signal for help due to corrosion of the battery clips in the transmitters.

The PERS transmitters are designed to allow users to press a button on the transmitter for emergency assistance. According to the CPSC, when the battery clip fails, the systems do not provide warning that a signal has not been sent. While there has been at least one known incident where the unit failed to operate properly, no injuries have been associated with the defective PERS transmitters.

The affected products have model numbers DXS-LRC, DXS-LRC-LA, DXS-LRP and DXS-LRW and manufactured dates from June 2013 to July 2013 with date codes 1306, 1329, and 1307 representing the year and week of year. Both model and date codes can be located on the back of the transmitters.

The products are gray with a black circle in the middle or white with a green swirl design on the front. Certain models have a solid black wristband with a black plastic face and black emergency button in the center.

The recalled systems were manufactured in China by Linear H.K. Manufacturing Limited where they were imported by Linear LLC of Carlsbad, California and sold at independent PERS distributors and dealers nationwide from June 2013 through August 2013 for roughly $45.

The CPSC recommends that customers contact Linear immediately at (855) 554-2384 or visit them online at www.linear-pers.com and navigate to the Recall link to receive a free replacement transmitter.