You arrive on scene for a 9-year-old female patient with a severe cough. Her mother states that she has spoken to her pediatrician, who believes that the child may have whooping cough and should be taken to the hospital for evaluation. Her mother is unsure if her daughter has had all her immunizations. Which of these statements would be most appropriate in regard to the care of this patient?

A) "She may be contagious, so let's put a surgical mask on her."
B) "Since this condition is caused by a virus, she is not contagious and we just need to transport her."
C) "She is probably contagious, so we need to each put on a gown and goggles to protect ourselves."
D) "Let's get a full set of vital signs, since this disease can cause heart problems, especially in the young."

A) "She may be contagious, so let's put a surgical mask on her."