Final answer:
In cases where a baby is apneic, gasping, or has a heart rate of less than 100 bpm, immediate emergency medical assistance is required, followed by resuscitation if trained. The Apgar score assists in assessing the newborn's condition, with a score under 5 indicating an emergency.
Step-by-step explanation:
If you assess a baby and they are apneic, gasping, or have a heart rate less than 100 beats per minute (bpm) even if breathing, it is essential to take immediate action. First, call for emergency medical assistance. Following this, if you are trained, begin infant resuscitation techniques according to the latest pediatric advanced life support guidelines.
This may include providing gentle respiratory support such as with a bag-valve-mask or conducting chest compressions if there is no heart rate or if the heart rate remains critically low despite adequate ventilation.
The Apgar score is a quick, painless method to assess the health of a newborn and includes evaluating appearance, pulse, grimace, activity, and respiration. An Apgar score less than 7 after 5 minutes may warrant intervention, and a score below 5 is usually an emergency situation requiring immediate medical response to resuscitate or stabilize the newborn.
It's crucial to act swiftly in response to signs of distress in an infant as outcomes improve with prompt and appropriate intervention. In some cases, sleep apnea monitoring technology may assist in early detection of respiratory problems.