Final answer:
When a newborn is not breathing or has a low heart rate, immediate medical attention is needed for resuscitation or stabilization. The Apgar score is used to assess the newborn's condition, with scores below 7 at 5 minutes or total scores below 5 indicating the need for medical assistance.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a newborn is not breathing or does not have a heart rate greater than or equal to 100bpm, it indicates a potential need for immediate medical attention to resuscitate or stabilize the newborn. This can be assessed using the Apgar score, which evaluates the newborn's heart rate, respiration, skin color, reflexes, and muscle tone. A score below 7 at the 5-minute mark or a total score below 5 indicates the need for medical assistance. Scores of 8 or above are considered normal.