During a depressurisation, which condition can occur due to reduced oxygen in the cabin?

During a depressurisation, which condition can occur due to reduced oxygen in the cabin?

• A. Hypoxia
• B. Hypothermia
• C. Dehydration
• D. Hyperoxia

Answer: (A)

During depressurisation the cabin loses pressurization, so the air inside is effectively at a higher altitude. The lower ambient pressure means less oxygen is available to move into the bloodstream, so arterial oxygen delivery to tissues drops. This situation causes hypoxia, where the body's tissues don’t receive enough oxygen, posing a rapid risk to brain and organ function. Prompt protection—donning supplemental oxygen and descending to a lower altitude—is essential to restore adequate oxygen. The other conditions don’t fit this scenario: hypothermia is about dangerously low body temperature, dehydration involves fluid loss, and hyperoxia is excess oxygen, which isn’t caused by a drop in cabin pressure.

During depressurisation the cabin loses pressurization, so the air inside is effectively at a higher altitude. The lower ambient pressure means less oxygen is available to move into the bloodstream, so arterial oxygen delivery to tissues drops. This situation causes hypoxia, where the body's tissues don’t receive enough oxygen, posing a rapid risk to brain and organ function. Prompt protection—donning supplemental oxygen and descending to a lower altitude—is essential to restore adequate oxygen. The other conditions don’t fit this scenario: hypothermia is about dangerously low body temperature, dehydration involves fluid loss, and hyperoxia is excess oxygen, which isn’t caused by a drop in cabin pressure.