A young man playing football in the park sustains a hard hit and is lying motionless on the ground, while his friends are trying to help him. Which action by his friends warrants immediate intervention by the nurse who was watching from the sidelines?

Rationale: A. The football player’s girlfriend is crying and screaming for help: Emotional distress from bystanders is common in emergencies but does not directly endanger the injured person. While the nurse may need to calm her later, it is not the most urgent issue. B. A fellow football player is encouraging the victim to try and sit up: Encouraging movement in a client with a potential neck or spinal injury can cause further spinal cord damage or paralysis. The nurse must immediately stop this action, maintain cervical spine immobilization, and ensure that emergency services are called. C. Several friends are walking around the accident victim and staring at him: Although this may interfere with rescue efforts or crowd control, it poses no immediate physical threat to the injured client. It can be managed after ensuring spinal precautions are in place. D. One of the friends is calling a relative to tell them about the accident: Contacting the family is appropriate once emergency services have been alerted and care is being provided. This action does not interfere with the client’s immediate safety or neurological stability.