CHS Emergency Procedures & Response 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient in a monoplace chamber develops a grand mal seizure during oxygen breathing. What is the FIRST action the operator should take?
- Immediately decompress the chamber
- Remove the oxygen mask to stop seizure activity
- Switch the patient to air and monitor until the seizure resolves (Correct answer)
- Notify the physician and continue treatment
Correct answer: Switch the patient to air and monitor until the seizure resolves
During an oxygen-induced convulsion, the oxygen source should be switched to air and the chamber held at depth until the seizure resolves before decompression begins.
Question 2: Which fire triangle element is most effectively controlled in a hyperbaric chamber to prevent combustion?
- Fuel
- Heat (ignition source)
- Oxygen (Correct answer)
- Pressure
Correct answer: Oxygen
Because enriched oxygen environments dramatically lower ignition thresholds, controlling oxygen concentration is the primary fire prevention strategy in hyperbaric chambers.
Question 3: During a multiplace chamber dive, a tender reports sudden severe chest pain and dyspnea at depth. The most likely emergency diagnosis is:
- Arterial gas embolism
- Spontaneous pneumothorax (Correct answer)
- Oxygen toxicity seizure
- Middle ear barotrauma
Correct answer: Spontaneous pneumothorax
Sudden pleuritic chest pain with dyspnea at pressure is classic for tension pneumothorax, which can expand on decompression and become life-threatening.
Question 4: What is the recommended minimum distance from a hyperbaric chamber within which smoking and open flames must be prohibited?
- 5 feet
- 10 feet
- 25 feet (Correct answer)
- 50 feet
Correct answer: 25 feet
NFPA 99 requires a no-smoking and no-open-flame zone of at least 25 feet around hyperbaric chambers due to the fire risk associated with elevated oxygen.
Question 5: A patient undergoing hyperbaric treatment suddenly loses consciousness without a preceding seizure. After switching to air, the next priority is:
- Perform emergency decompression immediately
- Assess airway, breathing, and circulation (Correct answer)
- Administer 100% oxygen via mask outside the chamber
- Increase treatment depth by 10 fsw
Correct answer: Assess airway, breathing, and circulation
Loss of consciousness requires immediate ABC assessment; airway management takes priority before any other intervention.
Question 6: Which document provides the primary U.S. safety standard governing hyperbaric facility design and emergency procedures?
- UHMS Best Practice Guidelines
- NFPA 99 Health Care Facilities Code (Correct answer)
- OSHA 29 CFR 1910.430
- Joint Commission Sentinel Event Policy
Correct answer: NFPA 99 Health Care Facilities Code
NFPA 99 is the authoritative standard for hyperbaric facility construction, equipment, and emergency protocols in U.S. healthcare settings.
Question 7: When performing an emergency decompression on an unconscious patient, decompression rates should be:
- As fast as physically possible to reach surface quickly
- Standard treatment table rates to avoid worsening the condition (Correct answer)
- Twice the normal rate to reduce time at pressure
- Halted until the patient regains consciousness
Correct answer: Standard treatment table rates to avoid worsening the condition
Even in emergencies, decompression should follow established table rates because rapid decompression can introduce or worsen decompression sickness or arterial gas embolism.
CHS Emergency Procedures & Response 2
A patient in a monoplace chamber develops a grand mal seizure during oxygen breathing.
What is the FIRST action the operator should take?