CFRN Aviation Safety and Survival 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During a helicopter emergency landing on water, at what point should flight crew members inflate their personal flotation devices (PFDs)?
- Immediately upon impact with water
- After the rotor blades have stopped and the aircraft is stable
- Before the aircraft contacts the water
- Only after exiting the aircraft (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Only after exiting the aircraft
PFDs should be inflated after exiting the aircraft to prevent being trapped inside by the buoyancy during underwater escape.
Question 2: What is the primary purpose of a helicopter Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT)?
- To communicate with ATC during flight emergencies
- To automatically broadcast distress signals on 406 MHz to satellites after a crash (Correct answer)
- To alert ground crews of an imminent landing
- To track fuel consumption in real time
Correct answer: To automatically broadcast distress signals on 406 MHz to satellites after a crash
The ELT automatically activates on impact and broadcasts on 406 MHz to COSPAS-SARSAT satellites to initiate search and rescue.
Question 3: A flight nurse notices the helicopter is experiencing unusual vibrations. What is the most appropriate immediate action?
- Increase patient monitoring and document the vibration
- Notify the pilot immediately and prepare for possible emergency landing (Correct answer)
- Ask the patient if they feel the vibration
- Check the aircraft maintenance log for prior vibration reports
Correct answer: Notify the pilot immediately and prepare for possible emergency landing
Unusual vibrations can indicate rotor or mechanical failure, requiring immediate pilot notification and preparation for emergency landing.
Question 4: Which type of fire extinguisher is most appropriate for use in an aircraft cabin electrical fire?
- Class A water-based extinguisher
- Class B dry chemical extinguisher
- Halon or CO2 extinguisher (Correct answer)
- Class K wet chemical extinguisher
Correct answer: Halon or CO2 extinguisher
Halon or CO2 extinguishers are used for electrical fires in aircraft because they are non-conductive and leave no damaging residue.
Question 5: What is the correct CFRN response if a patient's oxygen tank is damaged during a hard landing and begins to leak inside the aircraft?
- Tape the valve shut and continue monitoring the patient
- Notify the pilot, land immediately, and move the patient away from the tank (Correct answer)
- Switch to the backup oxygen supply and document the incident
- Reduce flow rate to minimize oxygen loss
Correct answer: Notify the pilot, land immediately, and move the patient away from the tank
A leaking oxygen tank creates a fire hazard; the priority is immediate landing and removing the patient from proximity to the leaking cylinder.
Question 6: During pre-flight safety briefing, a CFRN should inform the patient's family that they must NOT bring which of the following items into the helicopter?
- Soft fabric blankets
- Cell phones in airplane mode
- Lighters or matches (Correct answer)
- Prescription medications in labeled bottles
Correct answer: Lighters or matches
Lighters and matches are ignition sources that pose severe fire risk in the oxygen-rich helicopter environment.
Question 7: What does the aviation term 'hot loading' refer to in the context of air medical operations?
- Loading patients during high-temperature weather conditions
- Loading or unloading patients while the rotor is still turning (Correct answer)
- Rapid patient loading procedures used in mass casualty events
- Loading cargo that exceeds the helicopter's weight limit
Correct answer: Loading or unloading patients while the rotor is still turning
Hot loading refers to patient loading or unloading while the rotor is still spinning, which requires strict safety protocols to prevent rotor strike injuries.
CFRN Aviation Safety and Survival 2
During a helicopter emergency landing on water, at what point should flight crew members inflate their personal flotation devices (PFDs)?