Alert: Philips Lifeline recalls some help button pendants

Philips Lifeline Canada on Friday recalled the non-breakaway emergency medical alert necklace that led to the 2013 death of a 72-year-old Alberta woman.

Cords without the breakaway design could pose a strangulation risk if the cord gets caught on a wheelchair, walker or other protruding objects.

Health Canada and the company have had two reports of deaths in Canada since 2009 that were possibly related to the affected products.

This recall involves the non-breakaway neck cord versions of the Lifeline AutoAlert Personal Help Button, Classic Personal Help Button, and the Slimline Personal Help Button.

The company said personal help buttons with breakaway cords are not affected.

More than 100,000 units of the affected products, which were made in the U.S., were distributed in Canada prior to June 2011.

Since then, the Markham, Ont.-based company has taken steps to recall and replace them with the new breakaway version of the neck cord, but some affected products are still in the market.

For more information, consumers can contact Philips Lifeline Canada toll-free at 1-800-387-1215 (24hours/7days per week) or via the Philips Lifeline website.

Agencies/Canadajournal

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