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PST exit exam questions and answers — Set 23 — Personal Survival Techniques

Set 23 of the Personal Survival Techniques (PST) exit exam bank — 30 of 781 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.

These are the bank's original groupings. Practising deals the whole bank out again every time you reshuffle, so a practice “Set 3” is a different 30 questions each time — the set numbers below are the source file's, and are only used here so the key stays navigable. Options are listed in their original order with fixed letters; when you practise, those move too.

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Set 23 — 30 PST exit exam questions with answers

1. How can you make yourself visible in the water at night?

  • A. Splash the water continuously with your hands
  • B. Wear a dark-coloured jacket
  • C. Switch on the life jacket light
  • D. Blow a whistle continuously
Answer: C — Switch on the life jacket light
LSA Code 2.2.3 requires each life jacket to be fitted with a light that is visible at night, together with retro-reflective material. Switching on the light makes the survivor visible to searchers.

2. What should you do for a survivor suffering from hypothermia after recovery from the water?

  • A. Remove their clothing to warm them up
  • B. Provide them with hot drinks
  • C. Rub their body vigorously to generate heat
  • D. Keep them as still as possible and cover them with blankets
Answer: D — Keep them as still as possible and cover them with blankets
A hypothermic casualty should be handled gently, kept still and horizontal and insulated with blankets to prevent further heat loss. Rubbing the body can drive cold blood to the core and trigger cardiac arrest.

3. How should you behave in a lifeboat or liferaft to maintain stability?

  • A. Stand up and move around to keep the blood flowing
  • B. Remain seated and keep movements to a minimum
  • C. Jump into the water occasionally to cool down
  • D. Organize games and activities to pass the time
Answer: B — Remain seated and keep movements to a minimum
Occupants should remain seated and keep movement to a minimum so that the centre of gravity stays low and the craft remains stable. Standing and moving about increases the risk of capsize and injury.

4. What should you do if you are caught in a strong current while swimming towards the shore?

  • A. Swim against the current with all your strength
  • B. Swim parallel to the shore until you’re out of the current
  • C. Float on your back and wait for the current to subside
  • D. Call for help and wait for assistance
Answer: B — Swim parallel to the shore until you’re out of the current
A rip current flows away from the shore in a narrow band. Swimming parallel to the beach takes the swimmer out of the current, after which they can swim ashore, rather than becoming exhausted fighting it.

5. How often should each crew member participate in an abandon ship drill?

  • A. Once a month
  • B. Once every six months
  • C. Once a year
  • D. Once every two years
Answer: A — Once a month
SOLAS III/19.3.2 requires every crew member to participate in at least one abandon ship drill and one fire drill every month, and within 24 hours of departure if more than 25% of the crew have not taken part in the previous month.

6. What is the purpose of the whistle fitted to a life jacket?

  • A. To signal for help in an emergency
  • B. To use for entertainment
  • C. To keep as a souvenir
  • D. None, it should be removed to prevent accidental use
Answer: A — To signal for help in an emergency
LSA Code 2.2.1 requires every life jacket to be fitted with a whistle firmly secured by a lanyard, so that a survivor in the water can attract attention of rescuers with little effort.

7. How can you provide psychological support to fellow survivors in a lifeboat?

  • A. Avoid communication to minimize stress levels
  • B. Share positive stories and maintain a sense of hope
  • C. Focus on personal survival and disregard others
  • D. Keep quiet and conserve energy at all times
Answer: B — Share positive stories and maintain a sense of hope
The will to survive is a key survival factor. Keeping survivors occupied, communicating, sharing positive stories and maintaining hope counters despair and panic, as taught in PST under the psychology of survival.

8. How can you protect yourself from the sun while adrift in a life raft?

  • A. Jump into the water occasionally to cool down
  • B. Remove clothing to keep the body cool
  • C. Stay under the canopy or use a makeshift shade
  • D. Ignore sun protection and focus on survival essentials
Answer: C — Stay under the canopy or use a makeshift shade
Shade from the canopy, clothing and head covering reduces sunburn, heat stress and sweat loss, which helps conserve body water. Entering the water or removing clothing increases danger and dehydration.

9. How should you enter the water from a height during an emergency evacuation?

  • A. Headfirst to minimize impact
  • B. Feet-first with arms crossed over the chest
  • C. Backward to protect the head and face
  • D. Jump as far away from the ship as possible
Answer: B — Feet-first with arms crossed over the chest
When jumping, go feet first with legs together, arms crossed over the chest holding the life jacket down and one hand covering mouth and nose. This prevents injury to the neck from the life jacket and protects the airway.

10. How can you prevent dehydration in a survival situation at sea?

  • A. Drink seawater to replenish lost fluids
  • B. Collect rainwater or use a desalination device if available
  • C. Avoid drinking any fluids at all for the first week
  • D. Mix seawater with fresh water to make the supply last longer
Answer: B — Collect rainwater or use a desalination device if available
Fresh water is the main survival need. Rainwater should be collected and any desalting apparatus used to supplement rations. Seawater, even mixed, increases dehydration because the kidneys need more water to excrete the salt.

11. How should you react if you hear a 'man overboard' alarm on board?

  • A. Continue with regular duties as the crew will handle the situation
  • B. Assist in the search and rescue operations as instructed
  • C. Ignore the alarm as it may be a false alarm
  • D. Proceed to the nearest lifeboat and prepare for evacuation
Answer: B — Assist in the search and rescue operations as instructed
On a man overboard alarm, crew should go to their stations as per the muster list or emergency instructions and assist in look-out, search and recovery as directed. Ignoring it or preparing to abandon ship is wrong.

12. When a helicopter is winching from a ship, what must the ship's crew never do with the helicopter hoist wire or hook?

  • A. Secure it to any part of the ship
  • B. Allow it to touch the deck before handling
  • C. Guide it with a hi-line
  • D. Keep it clear of obstructions
Answer: A — Secure it to any part of the ship
The hoist wire and hook must never be made fast to the ship, because any relative movement between ship and helicopter could endanger the aircraft. IAMSAR Vol III guidance is that crew only guide the hook and the person being lifted, never secure the wire.

13. What is the purpose of the hi-line (high-line) technique used during helicopter winching?

  • A. To tow the survival craft towards the rescue ship
  • B. To let deck crew guide the hook to the deck when the helicopter cannot hover directly overhead
  • C. To lower fuel to the ship
  • D. To measure the height of the helicopter above the deck
Answer: B — To let deck crew guide the hook to the deck when the helicopter cannot hover directly overhead
When the pilot cannot hover directly over a small or obstructed winching area, a weighted hi-line is lowered first. Deck crew pull it in to guide the hook down to the deck, while never making the line fast to the ship.

14. How should the hi-line be handled by the ship's crew during a helicopter transfer?

  • A. Belayed to a bitt to hold the helicopter steady
  • B. Wrapped around the wrist for a firm grip
  • C. Pulled in and coiled loosely on deck, never made fast or wrapped around the hands
  • D. Cut immediately on arrival on deck
Answer: C — Pulled in and coiled loosely on deck, never made fast or wrapped around the hands
The hi-line is hauled in hand over hand and coiled clear on deck so it can run freely. It must never be secured to the ship or wrapped around a person's hands, as the helicopter may need to climb away suddenly.

15. When being lifted in a helicopter rescue strop, the survivor should keep the arms:

  • A. Raised above the head to signal the winchman
  • B. Stretched sideways for balance
  • C. Holding the hoist wire above the hook
  • D. Down by the sides or holding the strop in front, never raised above the head
Answer: D — Down by the sides or holding the strop in front, never raised above the head
Raising the arms allows the strop to slip off over the head. Once the strop is under the armpits and tightened, the survivor keeps arms down at the sides (or clasped in front) until safely inside the helicopter, following the crew's instructions.

16. Once a survivor is correctly secured in the rescue strop and ready to be hoisted, the usual signal to the winch operator is:

  • A. A thumbs-up with the arm extended
  • B. Waving both arms above the head
  • C. Blowing three blasts on a whistle
  • D. Firing a hand flare
Answer: A — A thumbs-up with the arm extended
Helicopter rescue guidance in IAMSAR Vol III and PST training is that the survivor, once secured, gives a clear thumbs-up to the winch operator. Waving arms can loosen the strop and is the distress signal.

17. How should deck crew approach or leave a helicopter that has landed on deck with rotors turning?

  • A. From the rear, to stay clear of the main rotor
  • B. From the front or side in full view of the pilot, crouching, and only when signalled
  • C. From any direction, as long as they move quickly
  • D. Only after the tail rotor has been touched to check for static
Answer: B — From the front or side in full view of the pilot, crouching, and only when signalled
The tail rotor is nearly invisible and extremely dangerous. Crew approach only when signalled by the pilot or crew, from the front or side within the pilot's field of view, and in a crouched position to keep clear of the main rotor.

18. Before helicopter operations, loose objects on and near the operating area should be removed or secured mainly because:

  • A. They interfere with the ship's radar
  • B. They make the deck slippery
  • C. Rotor downwash can blow them into the rotors or injure people
  • D. The pilot cannot see the deck markings
Answer: C — Rotor downwash can blow them into the rotors or injure people
Rotor downwash produces very strong winds. Loose gear, awnings, covers and rubbish can be sucked into the rotors or thrown at personnel, so the area is cleared and nearby items secured before the helicopter arrives (IAMSAR Vol III, ICS helicopter guide).

19. At night, how should deck lighting be arranged for a helicopter winching operation?

  • A. Shine the searchlight directly at the helicopter
  • B. Switch off all deck lights so the pilot can use night vision
  • C. Fire white parachute flares continuously
  • D. Illuminate the operating area with floodlights directed downwards, avoiding dazzling the pilot
Answer: D — Illuminate the operating area with floodlights directed downwards, avoiding dazzling the pilot
The operating area and obstructions should be well lit, but floodlights must point down onto the deck and never towards the helicopter, because dazzling the pilot during a hover is a serious hazard. The pilot will advise on any searchlight use.

20. Which fire-fighting preparations should be in place on deck before a helicopter operation?

  • A. Fire party ready with hoses rigged and foam equipment available, not pointing at the helicopter
  • B. No preparations, as helicopter fuel does not burn easily
  • C. Only a CO2 flooding system kept on standby
  • D. Fire hoses charged and spraying the operating area
Answer: A — Fire party ready with hoses rigged and foam equipment available, not pointing at the helicopter
Helicopter guidance requires a fire party in protective clothing with hoses laid out and foam equipment ready near the operating area, together with a rescue party. Hoses must not spray onto the deck or helicopter unless a fire actually occurs.

21. What is the general rule for the ship's course and speed during helicopter winching?

  • A. Stop the engines and let the ship lie beam-on to the sea
  • B. Maintain a steady course and speed agreed with the pilot, with the relative wind as requested
  • C. Alter course frequently to reduce rolling
  • D. Increase to full speed so the helicopter can keep pace
Answer: B — Maintain a steady course and speed agreed with the pilot, with the relative wind as requested
A steady platform is essential. The master agrees course and speed with the pilot so that the relative wind suits the helicopter's hover; the ship then holds that heading and speed until the pilot confirms the operation is complete.

22. On a passenger ship, which frequencies are provided for two-way on-scene communication with search and rescue aircraft?

  • A. 156.8 MHz and 156.3 MHz
  • B. 406 MHz and 121.5 MHz
  • C. 121.5 MHz and 123.1 MHz
  • D. 2182 kHz and 500 kHz
Answer: C — 121.5 MHz and 123.1 MHz
SOLAS Chapter IV, regulation 7.5, requires passenger ships to have equipment for two-way on-scene radiocommunication for search and rescue on the aeronautical frequencies 121.5 MHz and 123.1 MHz, allowing direct communication with helicopters and aircraft.

23. Before a helicopter arrives, which information should the ship normally pass to it?

  • A. Only the name of the master
  • B. The cargo manifest and stowage plan
  • C. The ship's draft and air draft only
  • D. Ship's position, course and speed, relative wind and the nature of the casualty
Answer: D — Ship's position, course and speed, relative wind and the nature of the casualty
IAMSAR Vol III lists the information a ship should give: position, course and speed to the rendezvous, local weather and relative wind, deck operating area, and details of the casualty or persons to be lifted. This lets the pilot plan the approach and equipment.

24. How should a survivor sit in a helicopter rescue basket?

  • A. Sitting in the basket with arms and legs kept inside
  • B. Standing on the rim, holding the hoist wire
  • C. Lying face down across the top
  • D. Hanging from the outside with the hands
Answer: A — Sitting in the basket with arms and legs kept inside
A rescue basket is entered and the survivor sits down inside it, keeping arms and legs within the frame and holding on until the helicopter crew take over. Limbs outside the basket can be crushed against the aircraft or ship's structure.

25. During a helicopter rescue from a liferaft, what effect of the helicopter must survivors be prepared for?

  • A. Loss of buoyancy in the raft tubes due to engine noise
  • B. Strong rotor downwash and spray that can capsize or move the raft
  • C. Interference that disables the raft's SART permanently
  • D. The raft being automatically deflated
Answer: B — Strong rotor downwash and spray that can capsize or move the raft
Rotor downwash creates a very strong wind and spray around the survival craft. Survivors should secure loose items, keep their weight low and well distributed, and follow the winchman's instructions; the canopy and loose gear may need to be secured.

26. In a helicopter 'double lift', how is the survivor lifted?

  • A. Using two strops attached to two separate hoists
  • B. With two survivors in one strop
  • C. Together with a helicopter winchman who accompanies the survivor on the hoist
  • D. By two crew members carrying a stretcher up a rope ladder
Answer: C — Together with a helicopter winchman who accompanies the survivor on the hoist
In a double lift the helicopter winchman descends on the hoist, places the survivor in a strop and then rises with the survivor, controlling the lift. It is used when the survivor is unable to help themselves or needs assistance.

27. A survivor who is unconscious or injured is normally lifted by helicopter using:

  • A. A single rescue strop under the arms
  • B. A rescue basket with the patient standing
  • C. The hi-line tied around the waist
  • D. A rescue stretcher (litter), with the patient strapped in
Answer: D — A rescue stretcher (litter), with the patient strapped in
An injured or unconscious casualty who cannot safely use a strop is lifted in a rescue stretcher. The patient is strapped in securely, and a guide line may be used to stop the stretcher spinning while it is winched up.

28. How can the ship best show the wind direction to an approaching helicopter during the day?

  • A. Fly flags or pennants, or show smoke, where the pilot can see them
  • B. Point the ship's whistle towards the wind
  • C. Switch on navigation lights
  • D. Turn the ship's radar scanner off
Answer: A — Fly flags or pennants, or show smoke, where the pilot can see them
IAMSAR Vol III recommends showing the wind direction to the pilot, for example with flags and pennants or smoke from the funnel. Knowing the true wind helps the pilot choose a safe approach and hover position.

29. Which statement about responsibility during a helicopter-ship operation is correct?

  • A. The master takes command of the helicopter once it is over the deck
  • B. The pilot decides on the safety of the helicopter, and the master remains responsible for the ship
  • C. The winchman is responsible for the ship's navigation
  • D. The ship's bosun gives the final order to the pilot to land
Answer: B — The pilot decides on the safety of the helicopter, and the master remains responsible for the ship
Under ICS and IAMSAR guidance the helicopter pilot is solely responsible for the aircraft and may abort the operation at any time, while the master keeps responsibility for the ship. Both must agree that the operation is safe before it starts.

30. When a helicopter is lifting persons from a ship, where should the winching area preferably be located?

  • A. Inside the accommodation passageway
  • B. On top of the funnel
  • C. An open deck area clear of masts, rigging and obstructions, preferably on the side giving the pilot a clear view
  • D. Directly next to the radar scanner on the monkey island
Answer: C — An open deck area clear of masts, rigging and obstructions, preferably on the side giving the pilot a clear view
The winching area should be an open deck space as free as possible of obstructions such as masts, derricks, aerials and rigging, so the helicopter can hover safely and the pilot has good visual references. Obstructions nearby are lowered or secured.

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