Recall of S.D. Firm’s Diving Suit Ordered
WASHINGTON — The federal government announced a recall Monday of scuba-diving dry suits using air control valves made by San Diego-based Diving Unlimited International because malfunctioning valves may cause serious injury or death.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission said owners of dry suits with AC (air control) valves made by the company “should immediately stop using the dry suits.â€
The commission’s actions have followed the company’s own recall, which began in March, 1987.
“Even before the commission got involved we began our own recall that has retrieved about 75% of the valves,†said Mardie Schroeder, a company spokeswoman. She said about 1,500 AC valves were sold between December, 1985, and February, 1987, when manufacturing was discontinued.
“The commission, like us, is concerned about the divers’ safety,†Schroeder said. “That’s why we both want the remaining 25% back.â€
16 Diving Incidents
Schroeder said that the company is planning to distribute the commission’s recall report today to about 200 distributors and dealers nationwide and that the commission’s posters announcing the recall are also scheduled for distribution.
The commission said there have been 16 diving incidents associated with malfunctioning of the valve, which deflates or inflates the dry suits to allow divers to equalize air pressure while ascending or descending in water.
The commission said that unlike most air control systems that have two valves that allow air intake and outflow through two separate valves, DUI’s one-valve system “may free-flow, causing air to fill the dry suit, resulting in the diver rising rapidly to the surface, or failing to provide sufficient air to maintain buoyancy.â€
“Without the proper training and without the knowledge of proper emergency procedures, the possibility of injury or death does exist,†Schroeder said. “But I wouldn’t say the valve is faulty. It’s just too sophisticated for the general public. We don’t want to take any chances, so we want them back.â€
Schroeder said the company will replace free all returned AC valves with a comparable valve.
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