A nurse is caring for a client who is in the emergency department with multiple traumatic injuries following a motor-vehicle crash. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?

Rationale: A. Warm blood products prior to administration is appropriate to prevent hypothermia during transfusion, but this is not the first priority. Circulation is addressed after airway and breathing in the ABC priority framework. B. Establishing a patent airway is the first priority following trauma, as airway obstruction can lead to immediate hypoxia and death. According to the ABCs of emergency care (Airway, Breathing, Circulation), airway management always comes before any other intervention. The nurse must ensure airway patency through positioning, suctioning, or inserting an airway device if necessary. C. Assigning a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score is essential to assess neurologic status, but this occurs after airway, breathing, and circulation are stabilized. D. Removing the client’s clothing helps assess injuries and prevent contamination, but it is not the first step; airway management precedes exposure in trauma care protocols