SRT PFD & Dry Suit Selection 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary thermal advantage of a dry suit over a wetsuit in swiftwater rescue?
- Dry suits are more buoyant
- Dry suits keep the wearer completely dry, preserving thermal protection (Correct answer)
- Dry suits have thicker neoprene
- Dry suits are lighter and easier to swim in
Correct answer: Dry suits keep the wearer completely dry, preserving thermal protection
Dry suits seal water out entirely, allowing the wearer to use insulating undergarments that stay dry and retain thermal protection.
Question 2: Which dry suit entry style is considered the easiest for self-donning during rapid deployment scenarios?
- Front diagonal zipper (Correct answer)
- Rear horizontal zipper
- Front vertical zipper
- Side zipper entry
Correct answer: Front diagonal zipper
Front diagonal zippers are easier to operate independently and are often preferred for solo donning in rapid-deployment settings.
Question 3: What type of dry suit seal is most susceptible to tearing but provides the best watertight fit?
- Latex rubber seals (Correct answer)
- Neoprene seals
- Silicone seals
- Velcro seals
Correct answer: Latex rubber seals
Latex rubber seals provide an excellent watertight fit but are more fragile and prone to tearing than neoprene or silicone alternatives.
Question 4: During a swiftwater rescue, a rescuer's dry suit inflates noticeably at the legs while swimming. What is the likely cause?
- Undergarment is too thick
- Suit is overpressurized by the exhaust valve
- Air trapped from a partially opened exhaust valve or during a tumble (Correct answer)
- The PFD is adding too much buoyancy
Correct answer: Air trapped from a partially opened exhaust valve or during a tumble
Air can migrate to the legs during tumbling in current, causing dangerous inversion; rescuers must purge suit air before entering water.
Question 5: Which undergarment material provides the best thermal insulation in a dry suit when accidentally flooded?
- Cotton fleece
- Down fill
- Wool blend
- Synthetic pile or fleece (polyester) (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Synthetic pile or fleece (polyester)
Synthetic pile retains significant insulating value even when wet, unlike down or cotton which collapse when saturated.
Question 6: A swiftwater rescue technician working in water above 50°F but below 60°F for extended periods should consider:
- A shorty wetsuit only
- A 3mm full wetsuit
- A dry suit with light undergarments (Correct answer)
- No thermal protection if air temperature is warm
Correct answer: A dry suit with light undergarments
Water between 50–60°F can cause significant heat loss over time; a dry suit with light undergarments provides appropriate protection for prolonged operations.
Question 7: What is the purpose of the pressure relief (exhaust) valve on a rescue dry suit?
- To allow water to drain after exiting the river
- To prevent suit over-inflation as air expands with depth decrease (Correct answer)
- To add buoyancy in fast water
- To equalize pressure with the PFD
Correct answer: To prevent suit over-inflation as air expands with depth decrease
As a diver or swimmer ascends, trapped air expands; the exhaust valve releases excess air to prevent dangerous suit over-inflation.
SRT PFD & Dry Suit Selection 3
What is the primary thermal advantage of a dry suit over a wetsuit in swiftwater rescue?