When notified of plane crash victims suffering from cold exposure, what should the nurse's initial action be?

In the context of a plane crash with victims suffering from cold exposure, the nurse's initial action needs to prioritize the triage and management of a potentially large number of casualties effectively. Activating the agency disaster plan is crucial because it ensures that the healthcare facility is prepared to handle an influx of patients efficiently, coordinating resources and staffing as necessary.

By activating the disaster plan, the nurse enables a structured response that includes alerting additional medical personnel, securing supplies, and optimizing patient flow through the emergency department. This coordinated effort is essential in a mass casualty event to manage the clinical needs of patients, such as those suffering from hypothermia due to cold exposure, while also ensuring that the staff is adequately prepared to respond to the significant increase in patient volume.

While supplying triage rooms with essential fluids or requesting staff from the intensive care unit may seem important, these actions would typically happen after the disaster plan has been initiated. Similarly, requesting warm blankets is a necessary part of caring for cold exposure, but it must follow the establishment of an organized response strategy. Hence, activating the disaster plan is the critical first step in managing the situation effectively.