A mother runs into the emergency department with a toddler in her arms and tells the nurse that her child got into some cleaning products. The child smells of chemicals on the hands, face, and on the front of the child's clothes. After ensuring the airway is patent, which action should the nurse implement first?

A. Determining the type of chemical exposure is critical as it guides subsequent treatment and interventions. Different chemicals require different management strategies, including whether to induce vomiting or administer activated charcoal. B. Calling poison control is important but should occur after identifying the specific chemical involved, as the poison control guidelines often depend on the substance the child was exposed to. C. Assessing for altered sensorium is important, but the immediate priority is to identify the type of chemical exposure to implement appropriate interventions. D. Obtaining equipment for gastric lavage may be necessary in certain cases, but this is based on the type of chemical ingested and the child's condition. Identifying the chemical exposure must occur first to determine if gastric lavage is appropriate.