Final answer:
An Apgar score below 7 at the 5-minute mark may require medical assistance, while a score below 5 indicates a need for immediate intervention due to an emergency. The score assesses the newborn's vital signs and adaptation to the outside environment.
Step-by-step explanation:
An Apgar score requires immediate intervention and continued evaluation if it is significantly low. Specifically, an Apgar score lower than 7 at the 5-minute mark indicates that the newborn might need medical assistance. An extremely concerning score is one that falls below 5 which suggests an emergency situation where the newborn must receive immediate resuscitative measures to stabilize their condition. Heart rate and respiration are the most critical components of the five Apgar criteria, which also include appearance (skin color), grimace (reflex), and activity (muscle tone). Physicians use the Apgar score right after birth to determine the newborn's transition from the uterus to the outside world and to decide if immediate medical attention is necessary.