Certified Healthcare Constructor (CHC) Practice Exam

What is the potential danger to a patient if cryogenic material leaks?

1. It can cause material burns

2. It can lead to electrical shocks

3. It can displace air and cause asphyxiation

4. It can disrupt monitoring equipment

The correct answer is: It can displace air and cause asphyxiation

The potential danger to a patient if cryogenic material leaks is that it can displace air and cause asphyxiation. Cryogenic materials, such as liquid nitrogen or helium, are often stored at extremely low temperatures, and when they leak, they can evaporate rapidly and expand into gas. This gas can displace the oxygen in the air, leading to a reduced availability of breathable air. In enclosed or poorly ventilated areas, this displacement can create an asphyxiation risk as the concentration of breathable oxygen becomes dangerously low, posing a significant threat to patient safety and necessitating immediate evacuation of the space to restore adequate oxygen levels. Material burns can occur due to direct contact with cryogenic substances, but the more critical and immediate danger is related to the displacement of air and associated health risks like asphyxiation. Electrical shocks and disruption of monitoring equipment could also be concerns in different contexts, but they don't relate directly to the specific dangers posed by cryogenic material leakage.