Under which circumstance should you initiate artificial ventilations for a newborn?

Initiating artificial ventilations for a newborn is crucial when the newborn's heart rate is less than 100 beats per minute. A heart rate in this range is indicative of potential inadequate oxygenation and may suggest that the newborn is in respiratory distress or has not transitioned properly to breathing air after birth. In such cases, artificial ventilations can help ensure that the newborn receives sufficient oxygen until further assessment and intervention can be performed.

Other circumstances, such as whether the newborn is crying, having blue skin, or exhibiting irregular breathing, may require additional evaluations, but they do not specifically indicate the immediate need for artificial ventilations as clearly as a heart rate below 100 beats per minute does. While these other signs may reflect critical conditions, the heart rate is a more direct measure of the need for immediate resuscitative actions in newborns.