YIKES! Rock Climbing Cam Units recalled for fall hazard

Photo: www.boyresults.com 

For those parents out there whose adult children are climbing rocks, jumping out of airplanes, leaping off cliffs or swimming over miles of open sea, then this recall will make you shiver just a little bit more. [I can relate as my daughter engages in all the above and often I am grateful not to know before hand that she has just accomplished some first-time feat.]  Still, I’ll pass this recall along to her….just in case.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in conjunction with Sierra Trading Post online and outlet stores headquartered in Cheyenne, Wyoming, announced the recall of 1,280Joss Rock Climbing Cam Units.  The units involved in the recall can fail unexpectedly, creating a fall hazard.

Half way up the face of a sheer mountain cavern is NOT where you want your equipment to fail!  One report of product failure has been reported in Europe, where Italian maker, Cassin Sri, manufactures the cam units.  Gratefully no deaths or injuries have been reported in the United States. 

According to the CPSC recall, “ The Joss Cam is a mechanical device placed in the crack of a rock to support a climber's weight. The Cam is operated by a trigger that retracts the aluminum lobes, allowing the device to be placed and secured in the crack of a rock.  A cable is attached to the device with a heavy-duty nylon sling attached to the end of the cable.”

Here’s what you need to know about the Joss cam units in the recall:

• Comes in 8 sizes
• Comes in 6 strap colors (blue, green, orange, purple, red and yellow)
• Each Cam strap is marked with a size from  .5 to 4
• The Sierra Trading Post item numbers #69277 and #69278 are marked on the product packaging (or order invoice)
• Only those units sold between August 2003 and March 2006 are involved in this recall

It goes without saying, but consumers who think they may have purchased the cam unit mentioned above should stop using the product immediately and contact Sierra Trading Post for a full refund.  The company can be reached by phone at (800) 713-4534 or at their website: customerservice@sierratradingpost.com