Question

An Apgar score of 3 indicates a severely depressed newborn with apnea, slow heart rate, and an absence of reflexes; resuscitation should be ongoing and should have been started before 1 minute had elapsed.

a) True
b) False

Answer 1

A true Apgar score of 3 signifies a critical condition in a newborn, necessitating immediate and continuous resuscitation efforts.

Step-by-step explanation:

An Apgar score of 3 is considered critically low and indicates a severely depressed newborn that would likely require immediate and ongoing resuscitation efforts. The statement is true. An Apgar score is a quick, easy, and painless method to assess a newborn's transition from the womb to the outside world, immediately after birth. This score is determined by evaluating five criteria: skin color, heart rate, reflex, muscle tone, and respiration, each assigned a score of 0, 1, or 2. A score of 3 or below indicates the newborn is in significant distress, and immediate medical attention is necessary to stabilize or resuscitate the infant. Health professionals use the Apgar test to determine whether a newborn needs immediate medical care and it is generally taken at 1 minute and again at 5 minutes after birth.