What should an EMT provide if a newborn is not breathing?

When a newborn is not breathing, the most immediate and appropriate intervention is to provide positive pressure ventilation with a bag-mask device. In neonates, effective ventilatory support is critical to establish normal breathing and ensure adequate oxygenation.

The bag-mask technique allows the EMT to deliver air directly into the infant's lungs, helping to inflate them and promote gas exchange. This is essential because newborns have small lung volumes and can quickly develop hypoxia if breathing is not restored promptly.

Other options, such as cardiac compressions, oxygen therapy, or intravenous fluids, are not the primary initial steps in this scenario. Cardiac compressions are reserved for newborns who demonstrate signs of cardiac arrest after all appropriate measures to establish ventilation have been undertaken. Oxygen therapy alone is insufficient without ensuring that breathing is established first. Intravenous fluids may be necessary in cases of shock or dehydration, but they do not address the critical need for ventilation in an apneic newborn.

Therefore, providing positive pressure ventilation with a bag-mask device is the essential first step in managing a newborn who is not breathing.