Final answer:
It is false that most newborns require chest compressions or medications right after birth. Newborns typically initiate their own circulation and respiration with the first breath. Only in certain emergency situations, which are not common, might such interventions become necessary.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question concerns whether most newborns will require chest compressions or medications after birth. This is false. Most newborns do not require such interventions as the first breath a newborn takes at birth inflates the lungs, closes the three shunts in the circulatory system present during fetal life, and thus starts the newborn's independent circulation and respiration. However, in emergency situations where a newborn is not responding well, the Apgar score—a quick test performed on a baby at 1 and 5 minutes after birth—will be utilized to decide if medical assistance is needed. If the heart rate and respiration are significantly low, it might be an indication that chest compressions or medication like epinephrine might be necessary to assist the newborn, though these instances are not common.
The process of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) applies to both adults and newborns in critical scenarios where the heart stops beating or in cases of severe distress. CPR for newborns is unique and requires specific training and delicacy due to their fragility and size. The guidelines described within the provided reading material pertain to general CPR techniques which include compressing the chest at a depth of at least 5 cm and at a rate of 100 compressions per minute.