Final answer:
The APGAR score is used to assess the health and well-being of a newborn immediately after birth. Scores below 5 indicate an emergency situation, while scores of 8 or above are considered normal.
Step-by-step explanation:
The APGAR score is used to assess the health and well-being of a newborn immediately after birth. It evaluates five criteria: appearance (skin color), pulse (heart rate), grimace (reflex), activity (muscle tone), and respiration. Each criterion is assigned a score of 0, 1, or 2, and the scores are added together to give a total score. Scores below 5 indicate an emergency situation, while scores of 8 or above are considered normal.