The nurse working in the emergency department is triaging a 65-year-old female client from a mass casualty motor vehicle crash. The client arrives ambulatory by ambulance and is complaining of a headache and neck pain. She is awake, alert, and oriented, and follows commands appropriately. What START triage level would be assigned to this client?

Choice A reason: Providing a centralized area for stocking the needed supplies is important for logistical reasons, ensuring that all necessary materials are readily available. However, this is not the primary scientific rationale for designating a specific decontamination area. The primary focus is on preventing contamination and ensuring safety.

Choice B reason: Preventing secondary contamination to health-care providers is the most crucial reason for designating a specific area for decontamination. This measure is vital to avoid spreading hazardous substances to others and ensuring the safety and effectiveness of the decontamination process. By containing the contamination in a controlled area, health-care providers can minimize the risk of exposure and cross-contamination.

Choice C reason: Designating an area where bioterrorism clients can receive care is important, but it is not the primary rationale for having a specific decontamination area. While care and treatment are critical, the main goal of the decontamination area is to remove contaminants and protect health-care providers and other patients from exposure.

Choice D reason: Providing showers and privacy to the client in the decontamination area is beneficial for the comfort and dignity of the client. However, this is not the main scientific rationale for having a designated decontamination area. The primary reason is to control and contain contamination and prevent it from spreading.

Choice A reason: In the START triage system, the yellow category is designated for clients who are unable to walk, but their condition is stable and does not require immediate life-saving intervention. This client, though confused, is obeying commands, has a deformity to his lower leg with good peripheral pulses, and is unable to ambulate. These factors indicate that the client's injuries need attention but are not immediately life-threatening, making the yellow category appropriate.

Choice B reason: The black category is for clients who are deceased or have injuries so severe that they are not expected to survive even with immediate medical intervention. This client does not fall into this category as he is responsive and his condition is stable.

Choice C reason: The red category is assigned to clients who require immediate life-saving intervention. Although the client is unable to walk and has a deformity to his lower leg, he is stable, obeys commands, and has good peripheral pulses. Thus, he does not meet the criteria for the red category.

Choice D reason: The green category is used for clients who can walk and have minor injuries that do not require urgent medical attention. This client is unable to ambulate, indicating that his condition is more serious than those in the green category.