A school-aged child is admitted to the hospital with a vaso-occlusive sickle cell crisis. Which measure in the child's care plan should be given priority?

A. Encouraging deep breathing is important for preventing pulmonary complications but is not the priority in managing a vaso-occlusive crisis. B. Maintaining hydration through intravenous fluids is the priority as it helps to reduce blood viscosity and prevent further sickling of cells, which is critical in managing a vaso-occlusive crisis. C. Active range-of-motion exercises are important but are not a priority during an acute vaso-occlusive crisis. D. A protein-rich diet supports overall health but is not immediately relevant to the acute management of a vaso-occlusive crisis.