A 23-year-old male struck his face on the steering wheel when his vehicle hit another car from behind. The patient's nose is deformed and actively bleeding. In his care, which intervention would be a priority?

A) Make one attempt to realign the nose
B) Pack the nares with sterile gauze
C) Suction the airway to keep it free of blood
D) Insert an NPA to prevent the nasal cavity from swelling shut

C) Suction the airway to keep it free of blood