An emergency department nurse triages a group of school children injured in a school bus crash. Which of the following children should the nurse have the provider evaluate first?

A. This client's symptom of shortness of breath while ambulating indicates possible worsening heart failure, which requires prompt assessment but is not immediately life-threatening.

B. Vomiting coffee-ground emesis suggests upper gastrointestinal bleeding, which could be

indicative of a serious condition such as a gastrointestinal ulcer or tear and requires immediate assessment to determine the cause and initiate appropriate treatment.

C. While urinary retention in a client with benign prostatic hyperplasia requires attention, it is not as urgent as upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

D. Green drainage from the T-tube in a client who had an open cholecystectomy may indicate bile leakage, which requires assessment and intervention, but upper gastrointestinal bleeding takes precedence due to its potential for rapid deterioration.

A.

A. The priority action is to remove the client from the source of carbon monoxide poisoning, which in this case is the kerosene space heater. Taking the client outdoors will provide fresh air and reduce exposure to carbon monoxide.

B. Wrapping blankets around the client may further exacerbate the symptoms by trapping the carbon monoxide, worsening the client's condition.

C. While loosening the client's clothing may improve ventilation, it is not as effective as removing the client from the source of exposure.

D. Opening the client's windows may help improve ventilation, but it is not as effective as taking the client outdoors to reduce exposure to carbon monoxide.