Certified Hyperbaric Technologist Test CHT Fire Safety and Oxygen Hazards in Hyperbaric Environments

Question 1

At what minimum oxygen concentration does a hyperbaric environment become significantly more hazardous for fire risk?

Accepted Answer

23.5%

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

100% cotton

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

Begin immediate emergency decompression

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

Faster due to enhanced oxidation at elevated partial pressures

Answer

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:

Accepted Answer

Grounding the patient and chamber to a common reference point

Answer

Proper grounding of the patient and chamber to a common electrical reference dissipates static charge before it can create an ignition spark.

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