Lesson 1Recognizing and correcting common artifacts: movement, muscle tremor, baseline wander, AC interference, and poor contactTeaches how to spot common artifacts like movement, tremor, baseline wander, AC interference, and poor contact, and gives clear steps to fix them before recording in Eritrean healthcare facilities.
Identifying patient movement artifactManaging muscle tremor and shiveringCorrecting baseline wander causesReducing AC and electrical interferenceImproving electrode contact qualityRechecking tracing after correctionsLesson 2Escalation protocol when abnormal/dangerous tracing identified: notifying clinician, activating emergency response, and documenting communicationsDescribes steps to follow when dangerous or unexpected ECG results appear, including who to inform, how to start emergency response, and how to record communications and times correctly in Eritrea.
Defining abnormal and critical findingsNotifying the responsible clinicianActivating emergency response systemsStaying with unstable patientsRecording times and contacts madeHandover of ECG and clinical detailsLesson 3Patient identification and verifying test request against medical record and referral detailsCovers checking patient identity, matching the ECG request to records and referrals, reviewing indications and risks, and fixing any mismatches to ensure the right test for the right patient in Eritrean hospitals.
Using two unique patient identifiersMatching request to chart and wristbandConfirming indication and urgencyResolving discrepancies before testingDocumenting verification stepsLesson 4Room and equipment preparation: safety checks, infection control, electrical safety, and privacy setupExplains setting up the ECG room and equipment, including infection control, electrical and cable safety, privacy arrangements, and preparing supplies for a safe and comfortable testing space in Eritrea.
Daily ECG machine function checkInspecting leads and power cordsCleaning couch and high-touch surfacesHand hygiene and PPE selectionPositioning screens and drapesStocking paper, electrodes, and gelLesson 5Recording special populations and technical variants: obese patients, left ventricular hypertrophy, bundle branch block, and paced rhythmsDetails changes needed for obese patients and those with LVH, bundle branch block, or paced rhythms, including lead adjustments, settings, and noting variations for better interpretation in Eritrean practice.
Adjusting leads in obese patientsRecording in suspected LVHECG features of bundle branch blockCapturing paced rhythms accuratelyDocumenting nonstandard lead positionsNoting technical limitations on reportLesson 6ECG acquisition settings: filter, gain, paper speed, leads display, and calibration checksExplains main ECG machine settings like paper speed, gain, filters, lead display, and calibration. Stresses when to change settings and how to check calibration for accurate results in Eritrea.
Standard paper speed and when to changeAdjusting gain for small or large signalsUsing muscle and baseline filters safelySelecting lead display formatsRunning a 1 mV calibration signalRecording settings on the ECG printoutLesson 7Skin preparation techniques: shaving, abrasion, cleaning, and electrode selectionCovers checking and preparing skin, including shaving hair, gentle rubbing, cleaning with suitable agents, and picking right electrodes to lower resistance and cut artifacts in Eritrean settings.
Inspecting skin for lesions or devicesShaving excessive chest hair safelyUsing abrasion to lower impedanceCleaning with alcohol or soapSelecting appropriate electrode typeEnsuring firm electrode adhesionLesson 8Standard ECG lead positions: limb leads, precordial leads V1–V6, and anatomical landmarksReviews standard positions for limb and precordial leads, important body landmarks, and common mistakes. Focuses on precise placement for good quality and comparable ECGs in Eritrea.
Right and left limb lead placementLocating intercostal spacesCorrect V1 and V2 positioningPlacing V3–V6 along the chest wallAvoiding breast tissue displacement errorsChecking symmetry and consistencyLesson 9Immediate recognition of life-threatening patterns: STEMI, ventricular tachycardia, complete heart block, and asystole and immediate actionsFocuses on quick spotting of STEMI, ventricular tachycardia, complete heart block, and asystole on resting ECG, and lists immediate steps, reporting paths, and safety measures for technicians in Eritrea.
ECG criteria for STEMI detectionIdentifying ventricular tachycardiaRecognizing complete heart blockConfirming true asystole vs artifactImmediate actions and escalationDocumenting critical ECG eventsLesson 10Post-test documentation: report components, transmitting ECG to physician, storage, labeling, time stamps, and quality assurance logsOutlines needed documentation after tests, including labeling, time stamps, report parts, storage, secure sending to doctors, and quality logs for tracking and checks in Eritrean facilities.
Essential identifiers on each tracingRecording date, time, and operatorSummarizing technical quality notesTransmitting ECG to physician systemsArchiving and backup proceduresCompleting QA and incident logs
