Aviation Safety and Survival Flashcards

What minimum safe distance should bystanders maintain from a helicopter landing zone during active operations?

Answer: 100 feet

A minimum of 100 feet (approximately 30 meters) is the standard safe distance for bystanders from an active helicopter landing zone.

Which physiological condition is MOST associated with spatial disorientation during night or instrument flight conditions?

Answer: Vestibular conflict between the inner ear and visual inputs

Spatial disorientation occurs when vestibular (inner ear) sensations conflict with visual information, particularly dangerous when visual cues are absent.

During an in-flight emergency, a CFRN's primary responsibility regarding the patient is to:

Answer: Secure the patient and all equipment, then brace for landing

In an in-flight emergency, the CFRN must secure the patient and all loose equipment to prevent projectile injuries during a crash or hard landing.

Which personal protective equipment (PPE) item is considered MOST critical for flight crew to wear at all times during operations?

Answer: Flame-resistant flight suit

A flame-resistant flight suit is the most critical PPE because post-crash fires are a major cause of crew fatalities in helicopter accidents.

What is the significance of 'density altitude' for helicopter flight nurses?

Answer: It affects aircraft performance by reducing lift capacity in hot, high, or humid conditions

High density altitude (hot, high, humid conditions) reduces rotor efficiency and engine output, limiting payload capacity and increasing risk of crashes.

A helicopter loses tail rotor effectiveness (LTE) during slow flight. As a CFRN, you should expect the aircraft to:

Answer: Yaw uncontrollably to the right in a US-manufactured helicopter

Loss of tail rotor effectiveness causes uncontrolled yaw in the direction of main rotor torque — to the right in most US helicopters — as the tail rotor can no longer counteract it.

When transporting a patient with a closed head injury at altitude, a CFRN should be most concerned about which secondary effect of altitude?

Answer: Increased intracranial pressure secondary to hypoxia and gas expansion

Altitude-related hypoxia can increase cerebral vasodilation and ICP, while any trapped intracranial gas expands per Boyle's Law, worsening head injury outcomes.