Certified Hyperbaric Technologist Test CHT Fire Safety and Oxygen Hazards in Hyperbaric Environments 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: At what minimum oxygen concentration does a hyperbaric environment become significantly more hazardous for fire risk?
- 21%
- 23.5% (Correct answer)
- 25%
- 28%
Correct answer: 23.5%
NFPA 99 designates 23.5% as the threshold above which an oxygen-enriched atmosphere exists, substantially increasing flammability of materials.
Question 2: What clothing material is required for patients entering a hyperbaric chamber?
- Polyester
- Nylon
- 100% cotton (Correct answer)
- Wool blend
Correct answer: 100% cotton
100% cotton is required because synthetic fabrics can generate static electricity and are more flammable in oxygen-enriched atmospheres.
Question 3: If a fire ignites inside a monoplace hyperbaric chamber during a treatment, what is the FIRST priority action?
- Activate the external fire suppression system
- Begin immediate emergency decompression (Correct answer)
- Call the fire department
- Have the patient attempt to extinguish the flame
Correct answer: Begin immediate emergency decompression
Immediate emergency decompression is the first priority to rapidly reduce the oxygen-enriched atmosphere and allow the patient to exit the chamber.
Question 4: How does the rate of fire spread in a hyperbaric oxygen environment compare to normal atmospheric air?
- The same rate
- Slower due to increased pressure dampening combustion
- Faster due to enhanced oxidation at elevated partial pressures (Correct answer)
- Unpredictably variable
Correct answer: Faster due to enhanced oxidation at elevated partial pressures
Elevated oxygen partial pressures accelerate oxidation, causing fires to spread significantly faster than in normal atmospheric air.
Question 5: Static electricity buildup in hyperbaric chambers can best be reduced by:
- Using synthetic materials for patient gowns
- Grounding the patient and chamber to a common reference point (Correct answer)
- Increasing treatment pressure
- Using plastic medical equipment inside the chamber
Correct answer: Grounding the patient and chamber to a common reference point
Proper grounding of the patient and chamber to a common electrical reference dissipates static charge before it can create an ignition spark.
Question 6: Which of the following is considered a potential ignition source inside a hyperbaric chamber?
- Cotton patient gown
- Static electrical discharge (Correct answer)
- Distilled water
- Silicone-based sealant
Correct answer: Static electrical discharge
Static electrical discharge can produce sparks capable of igniting flammable materials or gases in an oxygen-enriched hyperbaric atmosphere.
Question 7: Why are petroleum-based products strictly prohibited inside hyperbaric chambers?
- They emit toxic fumes during pressurization
- They are highly flammable in oxygen-enriched environments (Correct answer)
- They damage chamber viewport seals
- They interfere with pressure gauges
Correct answer: They are highly flammable in oxygen-enriched environments
Petroleum-based products are highly flammable and their ignition risk increases dramatically in the oxygen-enriched atmosphere of a hyperbaric chamber.
Certified Hyperbaric Technologist Test CHT Fire Safety and Oxygen Hazards in Hyperbaric Environments 1
At what minimum oxygen concentration does a hyperbaric environment become significantly more hazardous for fire risk?