Greater Miami Valley EMS Protocol Practice Exam 2025 – Full Prep Guide

The correct placement of the V1 lead during a 12-lead EKG is at the fourth intercostal space, right of the sternum. This positioning is critical because V1 is specifically designed to capture electrical activity from the heart, particularly the right side and the interventricular septum. By placing V1 at the fourth intercostal space just to the right of the sternum, it effectively provides a view of the heart's anterior wall and allows for accurate assessment of conditions such as right ventricular hypertrophy or anterior myocardial infarction.

In standard EKG placement, V1 serves as one of the precordial leads that monitors heart activity from distinct anatomical locations, giving comprehensive insights into different heart surfaces and chambers. Accurate lead placement is essential for diagnosing cardiac function and abnormalities, making it important to follow established protocol guidelines carefully.

Other positions, while they may serve purposes for different leads, do not provide the same accurate representation of cardiac electrical activity that V1 positioned correctly offers.