A nurse is caring for a client who has sustained a gasoline burn to 25% of the body. Which of the following is a priority safety concern when caring for this client?

Choice A rationale Gasoline is a hydrocarbon and a hazardous material that can. cause chemical burns. A priority safety concern is the immediate. decontamination of the client to stop the burning process and prevent further. skin damage. This involves removing all contaminated clothing and flushing the. affected area with copious amounts of water. Failure to decontaminate. immediately could lead to a deeper and more extensive burn injury. Choice B rationale While determining the amount of gasoline encountered is. important for documentation and a detailed burn assessment, it is not the. immediate priority. The primary goal is to stop the burning process and prevent. further tissue damage. Decontamination takes precedence over a detailed. history or assessment in the initial moments of care for a chemical burn to. minimize the duration of exposure. Choice C rationale Asking the client when they last ate a meal is part of a. comprehensive history but is not the priority in the immediate care of a. chemical burn. While this information is relevant for potential surgery or. anesthesia, the most urgent action is to stop the chemical exposure by. decontamination. The focus must be on mitigating the immediate and ongoing. harm from the chemical substance. Choice D rationale Elevating the head of the bed by 30 degrees is a standard. intervention for some respiratory or hemodynamic conditions, but it is not the. priority for a gasoline burn. The primary intervention for a chemical burn is to. stop the exposure and remove the chemical agent from the skin. The action of. elevating the head of the bed does not address the underlying chemical injury.