Aurora orange smoke distress flares recalled

The Aurora brand of handheld orange smoke distress flares were sold nationally between October and November last year as single flares, and also as part of inshore and offshore flare kits.

The flares are marked with the item number 9539320, and lot numbers 060 to 061.

According to the voluntary recall notice from WesCom, the flare's British manufacturer, smoke could vent from both the top and the bottom of the product instead of just from the top, causing the handle of the product to become hot.

“If the flare vents incorrectly and becomes hot, this may increase the risk of an injury,” the recall notice published on the Federal Government’s Product Safety website says.

Anyone who believes they may have one of the potentially faulty flares can return it to where it was bought to either have it replaced free of charge, or for a full refund.

Aurora recommends that if anyone activates an orange smoke flare and smoke starts to come from below its handle, they should immediately drop it on the ground or throw it overboard.

Owners can also contact WesCom Signal and Rescue Australia on (03) 9650 1488or via email at info@aurora-marine.com for more information.

Dedicated distress signals such as orange and red flares were first introduced to boats in response to the sinking of the Titanic in 1912.

The Titanic did fire off a number of signalling rockets on the night it sank, but one nearby ship that could have swung to its rescue mis-interpreted them as communications between ships and not a cry for help.

Under Australian regulations, powered boats are required to carry smoke and red flares used to signal for help, while venturing more than 2.0 nautical miles offshore also requires a boat to carry parachute flares.

Smoke and red flares are usually fired from the top of the device, while parachute flares are usually fired from the bottom.