Final answer:
The Apgar score, used for assessing newborn babies, consists of five criteria including heart rate and respiration. Scores are taken at 1 minute and 5 minutes after birth, with higher scores indicating a better transition from the womb.
Step-by-step explanation:
The score used to assess comatose patients differs from the Apgar score, which is specifically for assessing the immediate health of newborn babies after birth. Although the question seems to be directed towards newborn assessment, it is important to note that for comatose patients, other scales such as the Glasgow Coma Scale would typically be used.
The Apgar score does, however, measure two critical criteria in newborns, heart rate and respiration. Any score lower than 7 at the 5-minute mark, or a total score below 5, reflects the need for medical assistance, indicating an emergency condition.
For a comprehensive assessment, an Apgar test is conducted at 1 minute and again at 5 minutes after birth, with each of the five criteria (skin color, heart rate, reflex, muscle tone, and respiration) assigned a score of 0, 1, or 2. A score of 8 or above is considered normal, while a score of 7 or higher generally indicates a baby has transitioned well from the womb, and a score of 4-6 or below requires medical intervention.