ToolsCalculators
APGAR score
APGAR score
Appearance (colour)
Pulse (heart rate)
Grimace (reflex irritability)
Activity (muscle tone)
Respiration
Result10 points
Reassuring newborn status.
When to use
- Assessing a newborn at 1 and 5 minutes after birth (and every 5 min if depressed).
Formula
One item each 0–2 for Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, Respiration. Range 0–10.
Pearls and pitfalls
- The score guides observation, not the decision to resuscitate, which is driven by heart rate and respiration.