Kern County Public Health unveiled a countywide program called "12 Leads Ahead," which the county says equips first responders with advanced 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) devices to improve on-scene detection of heart attacks.

The county stated it has invested in 112 advanced ECG units and that the program will be implemented across the county by Feb. 1. An unnamed county public-health speaker described the expected operational effect: "They can now expect to be able to have, if they're in a cardiac emergency, if they're having a heart attack, that can be quickly identified in the field by the medical teams responding. And then coordination can happen immediately with receiving hospitals to ensure they're ready to receive that patient when they get there." County narration also said Kern County is now the first EMS system in California fully equipped with advanced 12-lead ECG technology; that claim was presented by county speakers in the segment and is reported here as such.

The segment did not include details on unit procurement contracts, vendor names, per-unit costs, or which agencies will manage ongoing training and maintenance. County communicators said the program's purpose is faster diagnosis and improved coordination with receiving hospitals, and they set Feb. 1 as the target date for full implementation.