The toddler was brought to the emergency room after taking the mother's prenatal vitamins. Which intervention is most appropriate to perform first?

• A. Determine if the prenatal vitamins had iron
• B. Assess the toddler's vital signs frequently
• C. Assess the toddler's vitamin bottle to identify contents
• D. Notify child protective services of the situation

Answer: (B)

In an emergency ingestion, the first priority is to determine the child’s current stability by assessing vital signs repeatedly. This is how you rapidly identify any deterioration in airway, breathing, or circulation and decide what immediate actions are needed. Monitoring heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, and mental status provides the quickest snapshot of how the toddler is faring and guides urgent interventions if instability appears. After establishing stability, you would then gather information about what was ingested (checking the vitamin bottle contents and amount) to assess toxicity risk and determine further steps, such as specific treatments for iron exposure, if indicated. If vitals show instability, you escalate immediately and involve poison control and other appropriate care.