If a newborn's pulse rate is less than 60 beats per minute after delivery, what should the EMR do?

In the context of a newborn's pulse rate being less than 60 beats per minute after delivery, initiating CPR is the appropriate response. The reason for this is that a pulse rate below 60 beats per minute in a newborn indicates severe bradycardia, which requires immediate intervention to support the baby's circulatory system and oxygenation.

CPR for newborns is specifically focused on providing essential chest compressions and rescue breaths to help re-establish an adequate heart rate and improve oxygen delivery to vital organs. This is especially critical because newborns can quickly deteriorate without proper circulation and oxygenation.

Other potential actions, such as monitoring vital signs or administering supplemental oxygen, do not address the immediate life-threatening situation of bradycardia. Additionally, starting artificial ventilations may also be inappropriate without first checking the effectiveness of chest compressions if the heart rate is critically low. Thus, performing CPR becomes the most crucial and time-sensitive action in such a scenario.