What is the priority action when patients arrive with periorbital swelling and a strong gas odor?

When patients arrive with symptoms such as periorbital swelling accompanied by a strong gas odor, the priority action is to direct the clients to the decontamination area. This approach is crucial because the presence of a gas odor suggests potential exposure to a hazardous substance, which could pose serious health risks not only to the affected individuals but also to healthcare personnel and other bystanders.

Decontamination is an essential first step in managing casualties from hazardous materials. It reduces the risk of further contamination and helps ensure that any harmful substances are cleaned off before patients receive any form of medical treatment. Failure to decontaminate effectively could lead to the spread of the hazardous material, affecting more individuals and complicating the response efforts.

Directing patients to the clean or cold zone, while ensuring they receive treatment, is premature if they have not yet been decontaminated, as treatment in an area that hasn't been cleared of hazardous materials can be unsafe. Measuring vital signs and auscultating lung sounds also necessitates a safe environment, which will not be guaranteed unless proper decontamination is completed first. Although removing other clients and visitors from the area could be important in ensuring safety, it is not as immediate and critical as ensuring that the contaminated patients are removed from