Your group of climbers has reached an elevation of 8,500 feet. One of the climbers is increasingly short of breath and now has audible chest congestion. Your party has a limited supply of oxygen, which you immediately apply to the climber at 15 LPM via a nonrebreather mask. Based on your assessment that the climber has HAPE, you recognize that the next necessary treatment is:

a. a rapid descent of at least 1,500 to 3,000 feet.
b. to administer diuretics such as Diamox to reduce the patient's pulmonary edema.
c. to get the patient to a physician who can administer dexamethesone.
d. to place the patient in the shock position.

Answer: a