Hyperbaric Chamber Operations & Safety Flashcards
7 cards from real CHT 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 Chamber Operations & Safety flashcards as text
Which type of fire poses the greatest unique risk inside a hyperbaric chamber compared to normal atmospheric conditions?
Answer: Smoldering fires from organic materials in oxygen-enriched atmosphere
Oxygen-enriched atmospheres dramatically accelerate smoldering and open combustion, making materials that are difficult to ignite at normal pressure extremely dangerous.
A patient with a history of seizure disorder is scheduled for HBO therapy. What precaution is most directly relevant to hyperbaric operations?
Answer: Adjusting depth to minimize oxygen partial pressure and watching for CNS O2 toxicity
Pre-existing seizure disorders increase CNS oxygen toxicity risk; the treatment protocol should be reviewed to minimize pO2 while still achieving therapeutic effect.
What is the correct response if a patient has a grand mal seizure inside a monoplace chamber during oxygen breathing at 2.4 ATA?
Answer: Switch chamber gas to air and maintain depth until the seizure resolves, then begin slow decompression
The airway is protected inside the sealed chamber; switching to air lowers pO2, and decompression should begin only after the seizure resolves to avoid pulmonary barotrauma.
What does PVHO stand for in hyperbaric engineering standards?
Answer: Pressure Vessel for Human Occupancy
PVHO stands for Pressure Vessel for Human Occupancy — the ASME PVHO-1 standard governs the design and inspection of hyperbaric chambers.
How often must a multiplace hyperbaric chamber undergo a formal internal inspection per ASME PVHO-1 requirements?
Answer: Every 5 years
ASME PVHO-1 requires a formal internal inspection (including weld and acrylic viewport examination) at minimum every 5 years, with annual visual reviews.
What hazard does high-pressure oxygen present to metal components in the hyperbaric gas delivery system?
Answer: Oxygen-promoted ignition and burning of metal surfaces
High-pressure oxygen can ignite and sustain combustion of steel and other metals, particularly at particle impact points, making clean, particle-free O2 systems critical.
During a standard USN Table 6 treatment, at what depth is the patient maintained for the initial oxygen breathing periods?
Answer: 60 fsw (1.82 ATA gauge)
USN Table 6 begins with oxygen breathing periods at 60 fsw (approximately 2.82 ATA absolute) before ascending to shallower stops.