OHST Practice Exam

What instrument should be taken to a confined space where one person is presumed dead?

1. CGI with Oxygen sensor

2. IR Spectrometer

3. GCMS

4. Pitot Tube

The correct answer is: CGI with Oxygen sensor

When dealing with a presumed dead individual in a confined space, safety and the potential for hazardous atmospheres are of utmost concern. The instrument that should be taken in this scenario is a Gas Chromatograph with an oxygen sensor. This instrument is critical for assessing the atmosphere within the confined space because it can measure oxygen levels and detect the presence of toxic gases, which may have contributed to the incident. In confined spaces, the risk of low oxygen levels and harmful gases is significant. An oxygen sensor is essential to determine whether the atmosphere is safe for entry or if rescue operations can be conducted safely. If oxygen levels are too low, or if toxic gases are present, it would make the environment unsafe for rescuers and complicate recovery efforts. Additional details about the other instruments provide insight into why they would not be suitable in this situation. The IR Spectrometer primarily analyzes gas composition but does not provide direct readings of oxygen levels critical for immediate safety assessments. GCMS (Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry) is a precise analytical tool for identifying substances but is not practical for real-time monitoring in emergency rescue situations, where time is of the essence. Lastly, a Pitot Tube is used to measure fluid velocity, which is irrelevant in assessing the air