A 2-year-old child has had a common cold for 4 days. The caregiver calls the nurse in the emergency department at 2 a.m. on a cold winter night to say that the child has awakened with a barking cough and an elevated temperature; the child seems blue around the mouth. The nurse would appropriately recommend what action to the caregiver?

“Put a cool mist humidifier or vaporizer in the room to see if that relieves the cough. Call back if there is no relief in an hour.”

“Bring the child to the emergency room immediately.”

“Bundle the child up and take the child out into the cold for a few minutes. Call back if the exposure to the cold air does not provide relief.”

“Turn on all of the hot water taps in the bathroom and close the door. Take the child into the steam-filled room for 15 minutes. If there is no relief, bring the child to the emergency room.”