Newborn resuscitation — DipIMC MCQ

Correct answer: E — Open the airway and provide inflation breaths

Explanation lettering: B = shown as A · D = shown as B · E = shown as C · C = shown as D · A = shown as E

A is correct: Newborn resuscitation prioritises airway opening and effective lung aeration when heart rate is low after initial steps. B is less suitable because it does not address the discriminator in the vignette; C is less suitable because a detailed survey is inappropriate before correcting an immediate threat; D is less suitable because pre-alert is needed when definitive teams must prepare; E is less suitable because it does not address the discriminator in the vignette. The most tempting alternative is therefore suboptimal because it either delays the time-critical pre-hospital intervention or sends the patient to the wrong level of care. The key DipIMC principle is focused cABCDE decision-making with early pre-alert, triage or retrieval escalation when the scene physiology demands it.

Reference: Resuscitation Council UK Guidelines 2025; JRCALC Guidelines