Hyperbaric Equipment Operation & Safety Flashcards
7 cards from real CHS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Hyperbaric Equipment Operation & Safety flashcards as text
Why must static electricity be controlled inside a hyperbaric chamber?
Answer: Static discharge can ignite oxygen-enriched atmospheres or combustible materials inside the chamber
In oxygen-enriched environments, even a small electrostatic discharge can provide sufficient ignition energy to start a fire with materials that would not normally be flammable.
A hyperbaric chamber's depth gauge reads 66 FSW (feet of seawater). What is the equivalent pressure in ATA?
Answer: 3 ATA
Each 33 FSW equals 1 additional atmosphere, so 66 FSW equals 2 additional atmospheres plus 1 ATA surface pressure = 3 ATA total.
Which federal agency requires hyperbaric oxygen facilities to maintain records of equipment inspections and pressure vessel testing?
Answer: The Joint Commission (TJC) and applicable state health departments, enforcing NFPA 99 and ASME standards
Hyperbaric facilities accredited by TJC and licensed by state health departments must comply with NFPA 99 and ASME PVHO-1 documentation requirements.
What is the purpose of the 'air break' given to patients during hyperbaric oxygen therapy at depth?
Answer: Reduce the risk of CNS and pulmonary oxygen toxicity by lowering cumulative oxygen exposure
Air breaks (breathing air for 5 minutes during long treatments) reduce the cumulative oxygen dose, decreasing the risk of oxygen toxicity to the CNS and lungs.
During decompression, a patient in a multiplace chamber suddenly becomes unresponsive at 30 FSW. The inside observer should FIRST:
Answer: Assess the patient's airway and breathing while signaling the outside operator to halt decompression
Initial assessment and halting decompression prevents worsening barotrauma risk; the inside observer manages the patient while the outside operator controls the chamber.
What does 'MAWP' stand for in the context of hyperbaric pressure vessels?
Answer: Maximum Allowable Working Pressure
MAWP (Maximum Allowable Working Pressure) is the highest pressure at which a pressure vessel is designed and certified to operate safely.
A backup manual depth control valve is required on hyperbaric chambers primarily to:
Answer: Allow decompression if the primary automated control system fails
Manual backup controls ensure the chamber can be safely decompressed even if electronic or pneumatic control systems malfunction, protecting occupants from entrapment at pressure.