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PSCRB exit exam questions and answers — Set 12 — Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats

Set 12 of the Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats (PSCRB) exit exam bank — 30 of 389 questions, with the correct option marked and a one-line explanation for every one. Read it end to end, jump to a single set, or search it — then sit the same bank as a timed paper. The real DG Shipping exit exam is 30 marks with 15 to pass.

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Set 12 — 30 PSCRB exit exam questions with answers

1. According to current resuscitation guidelines, at what rate should chest compressions be given to an adult?

  • A. 100 to 120 compressions per minute
  • B. 30 compressions per minute
  • C. 140 to 160 compressions per minute
  • D. 60 to 80 compressions per minute
Answer: A — 100 to 120 compressions per minute
Current ILCOR, ERC and AHA guidelines recommend chest compressions at a rate of 100 to 120 per minute, pushing hard and fast on the centre of the chest and allowing full recoil between compressions.

2. To what depth should the chest of an adult be compressed during CPR?

  • A. 5 to 6 cm
  • B. 1 to 2 cm
  • C. Just enough to feel resistance
  • D. 8 to 10 cm
Answer: A — 5 to 6 cm
Current resuscitation guidelines recommend an adult compression depth of at least 5 cm but not more than 6 cm, with full chest recoil after each compression to allow the heart to refill.

3. What is the ratio of chest compressions to rescue breaths for single-rescuer adult CPR?

  • A. 15 compressions to 2 breaths
  • B. 5 compressions to 1 breath
  • C. 30 compressions to 2 breaths
  • D. 50 compressions to 5 breaths
Answer: C — 30 compressions to 2 breaths
Current guidelines for adult basic life support use a ratio of 30 chest compressions to 2 rescue breaths, minimising interruptions to compressions; rescuers unable or unwilling to give breaths should give continuous compressions.

4. For an unresponsive drowning casualty who is not breathing normally, how should resuscitation start?

  • A. With 5 initial rescue breaths, then CPR at 30:2
  • B. With back blows to clear water from the lungs
  • C. With 30 compressions only, and no breaths
  • D. With abdominal thrusts to remove swallowed water
Answer: A — With 5 initial rescue breaths, then CPR at 30:2
Because drowning causes cardiac arrest through lack of oxygen, European Resuscitation Council guidance is to give 5 initial rescue breaths before starting chest compressions at 30:2. Attempts to drain water from the lungs only waste time.

5. When checking whether an unresponsive adult (who is not hypothermic) is breathing normally, the rescuer should look, listen and feel for no more than

  • A. 3 minutes
  • B. 10 seconds
  • C. 1 minute
  • D. 2 seconds
Answer: B — 10 seconds
Basic life support guidelines limit the breathing check to no more than 10 seconds; if breathing is absent or not normal, assume cardiac arrest, call for help and begin CPR without delay.

6. An unconscious casualty who is breathing normally and has no suspected spinal injury should be placed

  • A. Flat on the back with the head raised on a pillow
  • B. Face down with arms by the sides
  • C. In the recovery position
  • D. Sitting upright
Answer: C — In the recovery position
The recovery position keeps the airway open and allows fluid or vomit to drain from the mouth, while the casualty is monitored to confirm breathing continues.

7. Which airway-opening technique is used for an unconscious casualty without a suspected neck injury?

  • A. Placing a pillow under the head
  • B. Head tilt and chin lift
  • C. Pulling the tongue forward with the fingers
  • D. Raising the legs above the head
Answer: B — Head tilt and chin lift
Tilting the head back and lifting the chin lifts the tongue from the back of the throat and opens the airway; this is the standard technique taught for lay rescuers in basic life support.

8. Hypothermia is defined as a fall in body core temperature below

  • A. 32 degrees C
  • B. 37 degrees C
  • C. 28 degrees C
  • D. 35 degrees C
Answer: D — 35 degrees C
Normal core temperature is about 37 degrees C; hypothermia is a core temperature below 35 degrees C. Below about 32 degrees C it becomes moderate to severe with loss of shivering and reduced consciousness.

9. Why should alcohol never be given to a survivor suffering from cold?

  • A. It raises the core temperature too quickly
  • B. It dilates surface blood vessels and increases heat loss from the body core
  • C. It freezes in cold conditions
  • D. It causes the survivor to shiver more violently
Answer: B — It dilates surface blood vessels and increases heat loss from the body core
Alcohol causes peripheral vasodilation, sending warm blood to the skin where heat is lost, and impairs judgement; it therefore worsens hypothermia even though the person may feel warmer.

10. What is meant by 'after-drop' in a hypothermic casualty?

  • A. A drop in body temperature caused by drinking warm fluids
  • B. A continued fall in core temperature after rescue as cold blood from the limbs returns to the core
  • C. A fall in blood sugar after eating
  • D. The sudden fall into the water when abandoning ship
Answer: B — A continued fall in core temperature after rescue as cold blood from the limbs returns to the core
After-drop is a further fall in core temperature after removal from the water, as cold blood from the extremities returns to the core. Gentle handling and keeping the casualty horizontal help reduce its effect.

11. In a casualty with severe hypothermia, which sign usually indicates a dangerous fall in core temperature?

  • A. Shivering stops while the person is still cold
  • B. Shivering becomes more violent
  • C. The pulse becomes fast and strong
  • D. The skin becomes pink and warm
Answer: A — Shivering stops while the person is still cold
Shivering is the body's main heat-production response and usually ceases in severe hypothermia, around 32 degrees C or below; a cold person who stops shivering is deteriorating, not improving.

12. How should frostbitten fingers or toes be treated in a survival craft?

  • A. Hold them close to an engine exhaust
  • B. Warm gently, for example against the body, and never rub them
  • C. Massage hard with oil
  • D. Rub vigorously with snow or a cloth
Answer: B — Warm gently, for example against the body, and never rub them
Frostbitten tissue is easily damaged; it should be rewarmed gently, such as by placing hands in the armpits, and must never be rubbed. Rewarming should not be started if there is a risk of re-freezing.

13. How can survivors in a survival craft help prevent immersion foot?

  • A. Keep the feet permanently in the bilge water to stay cool
  • B. Keep the feet as dry as possible, exercise the toes and avoid tight footwear
  • C. Wrap the feet tightly with bandages
  • D. Remove all footwear and socks and leave the feet exposed
Answer: B — Keep the feet as dry as possible, exercise the toes and avoid tight footwear
Immersion foot results from prolonged cold and wet with reduced circulation; keeping feet dry, loosening tight footwear and regularly moving the toes and feet to maintain circulation reduces the risk.

14. What is the recommended first aid for a burn?

  • A. Burst any blisters and apply cotton wool
  • B. Wrap tightly in a dry bandage immediately without cooling
  • C. Cool the burn under cool running water for about 20 minutes
  • D. Apply butter or oil to the burn
Answer: C — Cool the burn under cool running water for about 20 minutes
Current first-aid guidance is to cool the burn with cool running water for about 20 minutes as soon as possible, then cover loosely with a clean non-fluffy dressing or cling film; blisters are not burst.

15. What is the first action to control severe external bleeding from a wound?

  • A. Apply a tourniquet around the neck
  • B. Wash the wound with sea water
  • C. Apply firm direct pressure on the wound
  • D. Give the casualty water to drink
Answer: C — Apply firm direct pressure on the wound
Firm direct pressure on the wound, using a dressing or pad, is the first and most effective method of controlling external bleeding. A tourniquet is reserved for life-threatening limb bleeding that direct pressure cannot control.

16. A survivor shows signs of shock (pale, cold, clammy skin and rapid weak pulse). The first aider should

  • A. Make the casualty walk about to improve circulation
  • B. Lay the casualty down, raise the legs if no injury prevents it, and keep them warm
  • C. Sit the casualty upright and give salt water
  • D. Give the casualty alcohol to drink
Answer: B — Lay the casualty down, raise the legs if no injury prevents it, and keep them warm
For shock, the casualty is laid down, legs raised where injuries allow, to help blood return to vital organs, kept warm and reassured, and monitored closely while medical advice is sought.

17. What is the recommended first aid for a conscious adult who is choking and cannot cough effectively?

  • A. Lay the casualty flat and start chest compressions
  • B. Give the casualty water to drink
  • C. Give rescue breaths immediately
  • D. Up to 5 back blows followed by up to 5 abdominal thrusts, repeated
Answer: D — Up to 5 back blows followed by up to 5 abdominal thrusts, repeated
For severe airway obstruction in a conscious adult, current guidelines advise up to five back blows between the shoulder blades, then up to five abdominal thrusts, repeating the cycle; start CPR if the casualty becomes unresponsive.

18. What is the Neil Robertson stretcher especially designed for?

  • A. Treating hypothermia by warming
  • B. Carrying a casualty in deep water as a flotation device
  • C. Lifting or lowering a casualty vertically through narrow spaces and hatches
  • D. Splinting a single fractured finger
Answer: C — Lifting or lowering a casualty vertically through narrow spaces and hatches
The Neil Robertson stretcher wraps and secures the casualty firmly so that he can be hoisted or lowered vertically through narrow hatches, tanks and engine spaces, and transferred between deck levels.

19. How must the first-aid outfit in a survival craft be packed?

  • A. In a waterproof case capable of being tightly closed after use
  • B. In a cardboard box stowed under the thwarts
  • C. Loose in the equipment locker
  • D. In a sealed tin that can only be opened once
Answer: A — In a waterproof case capable of being tightly closed after use
The LSA Code requires survival craft first-aid outfits to be in a waterproof case capable of being closed tightly after use, so the remaining contents stay dry and usable throughout the survival period.

20. In a hypothermic casualty who is unresponsive, how long may the rescuer take to look for signs of life before starting CPR?

  • A. No more than 2 seconds
  • B. 10 minutes
  • C. Up to 1 minute
  • D. At least 5 minutes
Answer: C — Up to 1 minute
Breathing and pulse may be very slow and difficult to detect in severe hypothermia; resuscitation guidelines allow up to one minute to check for signs of life before deciding to start CPR.

21. How should a fracture of the leg be managed in a survival craft before evacuation?

  • A. Make the casualty walk to keep the joint mobile
  • B. Straighten the bone forcefully to its normal position
  • C. Leave the limb free so it can move with the boat
  • D. Immobilise the limb in a comfortable position using splints or by securing it to the other leg
Answer: D — Immobilise the limb in a comfortable position using splints or by securing it to the other leg
Fractures should be immobilised to prevent further injury and pain, using improvised splints or bandaging the injured leg to the sound leg, checking circulation beyond the bandages regularly.

22. When giving rescue breaths during CPR, each breath should

  • A. Last at least 5 seconds
  • B. Be given over about 1 second, making the chest visibly rise
  • C. Be given only through the nose with the mouth open
  • D. Be forced in as hard as possible
Answer: B — Be given over about 1 second, making the chest visibly rise
Each rescue breath should take about one second and be just enough to make the chest rise visibly; excessive force inflates the stomach, causing regurgitation, and delays restarting compressions.

23. Where a ship is fitted with davit-launched liferafts, on-board training in their use must take place at intervals not exceeding

  • A. 1 month
  • B. 4 months
  • C. 12 months
  • D. 5 years
Answer: B — 4 months
SOLAS regulation III/19 requires on-board training in the use of davit-launched liferafts at intervals not exceeding four months, including, whenever practicable, the inflation and lowering of a liferaft, which may be a special training liferaft.

24. A special liferaft used only for davit-launched liferaft training on board must be

  • A. Clearly marked and not counted as part of the ship's life-saving appliances
  • B. Stowed with the ship's HRU-fitted liferafts
  • C. Painted white with no markings
  • D. Serviced only once every five years
Answer: A — Clearly marked and not counted as part of the ship's life-saving appliances
SOLAS regulation III/19 permits training using a special liferaft intended for training only, which is not part of the ship's life-saving appliances; such a liferaft must be conspicuously marked so it is not mistaken for an operational raft.

25. Within what time must an inflatable liferaft be fully inflated at an ambient temperature of 18 to 20 degrees C?

  • A. 30 seconds
  • B. 5 minutes
  • C. 3 minutes
  • D. 1 minute
Answer: D — 1 minute
The LSA Code requires the inflatable liferaft to inflate within a period of 1 minute at an ambient temperature between 18 degrees C and 20 degrees C, and within 3 minutes at minus 30 degrees C.

26. In very cold conditions the gas pressure in a liferaft cylinder is reduced. What maximum inflation time does the LSA Code allow for an inflatable liferaft at minus 30 degrees C?

  • A. 1 minute
  • B. 3 minutes
  • C. 10 minutes
  • D. 15 minutes
Answer: B — 3 minutes
The LSA Code requires inflatable liferafts to inflate within 3 minutes at an ambient temperature of minus 30 degrees C; low temperature reduces the gas pressure, so inflation takes longer than the 1 minute required at 18 to 20 degrees C.

27. A liferaft and its equipment must be capable of operating satisfactorily after being dropped into the water from a height of at least

  • A. 10 metres
  • B. 4.5 metres
  • C. 18 metres
  • D. 30 metres
Answer: C — 18 metres
The LSA Code requires every liferaft to be constructed to withstand being dropped into the water from a height of 18 m; if stowed higher than 18 m it must be of a type that has been satisfactorily drop-tested from at least that height.

28. The total mass of a throw-overboard liferaft, its container and equipment must not normally exceed

  • A. 500 kg
  • B. 85 kg
  • C. 185 kg
  • D. 300 kg
Answer: C — 185 kg
The LSA Code limits the total mass of the liferaft, its container and equipment to 185 kg, unless it is launched by an approved launching appliance or is not required to be portable, so that it can be manhandled overboard.

29. What is the minimum length of the painter of a throw-overboard inflatable liferaft?

  • A. Equal to the ship's freeboard at summer load draught
  • B. 10 m plus the distance from the stowed position to the waterline in the lightest seagoing condition, or 15 m, whichever is greater
  • C. 5 m in all cases
  • D. 30 m in all cases
Answer: B — 10 m plus the distance from the stowed position to the waterline in the lightest seagoing condition, or 15 m, whichever is greater
The LSA Code requires the painter of a throw-overboard liferaft to have a length of not less than 10 m plus the distance from the stowed position to the waterline in the lightest seagoing condition, or 15 m, whichever is greater.

30. Before throwing a liferaft container overboard, the person launching it must first check that

  • A. The canopy has been erected on deck
  • B. The container bands have been cut off
  • C. The painter is secured to a strong point on the ship and the water below is clear
  • D. The gas cylinder valve has been opened by hand
Answer: C — The painter is secured to a strong point on the ship and the water below is clear
If the painter is not secured the raft will drift away when it inflates; checking the water is clear of persons and obstructions prevents the container striking survivors or debris below.

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