Question 452 Deck Safety

70% to pass

A SAR helicopter has landed a litter on deck to medevac a patient from your vessel. After ensuring that it has been grounded, what precautionary action should you take prior to loading the patient into the litter?

A verify the litter is securely hooked to the winch cable before the patient is loaded
B unhook the litter from the winch cable while the patient is being loaded
C secure the winch cable to the deck so it is not a trip hazard
D secure the litter firmly to the deck to prevent any unnecessary movement
AI Explanation

The correct answer is B) unhook the litter from the winch cable while the patient is being loaded. This is the correct action because it removes the winch cable as a potential hazard while the patient is being transferred into the litter. Having the litter still connected to the cable could create a tripping hazard or restrict the movement needed to safely load the patient. Unhooking the litter allows the medical team to focus solely on the patient transfer without having to manage the winch cable. The other options are incorrect because: A) verifying the litter connection is not the priority during the patient transfer; C) securing the cable to the deck does not eliminate the tripping hazard; and D) securing the litter firmly is not the immediate concern compared to removing the cable connection.

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