Your point of no return is based on:

• A. The lowest cylinder gauge reading of any member on the team.
• B. The average cylinder gauge reading of the team.
• C. The time since entering the hazard zone.
• D. The highest cylinder gauge reading of any member.

Answer: (A)

In this context, air management is about the team being able to retreat safely using the air available, and the limiting factor is the person with the least air remaining. The point of no return is determined by the lowest cylinder gauge reading among team members because that person has the fewest breaths left and sets the latest feasible exit time for the entire team. If you base the decision on the average or the highest reading, you could push the team past the point where someone runs out of air, risking a life-threatening situation. Time since entering the hazard zone doesn’t reflect actual air reserves, so it’s not a reliable measure on its own.