New Heart Monitors Give West Jordan Firefighters an Edge

In celebration of World Heart Health Day on September 29, 2026, we're highlighting something exciting at the West Jordan Fire Department (WJFD).

Eight new cardiac machines join the WJFD response team. There is one on each truck and ambulance. A cardiac monitor is an easy-to-carry machine for paramedics, and a tool they use to save lives every day. They can read basic health signs, catch heart problems, or even restart a heart in patients of all ages, from premature babies to seniors.

Their most basic use is to check vital signs. "They check your blood pressure, your pulse oximetry, your pulse rate, and how much oxygen you have in your blood," Bryan Bobo, West Jordan Fire Department Paramedic Medical Training Specialist, said.

The new machines are on the leading edge of technology, with up to 12 leads (wires with pads that can sense an electrical signal from all over a patient's body), ECG (electrocardiogram), defibrillator, automatic shockable rhythms, an on-device printer for heart rhythm readings.

After checking vital signs, their most important use is for catching cardiac arrest and other dangerous heart problems as they happen. "Cardiac is the biggest thing aside from the vitals that we would do with these monitors. We can check for heart abnormalities and depending on the patient, depending on what we find on the cardiac monitor will dictate how we treat them," Bobo said.

When it comes to heart health, every second counts. Quick and accurate information can be the difference between a full recovery and dead tissue. Bluetooth communication, something that was on some of the previous equipment but was not available on every vehicle, has made the biggest difference. If the ER team is about to receive a heart-attack patient they can see the heart rhythm patterns, they can get ready for the right treatment before the ambulance gets there.

Another helpful tool is the ability to print out the electrocardiogram, the pattern of the heartbeat. The printout can be saved and taken to future doctor appointments if needed.

These new cardiac monitors give West Jordan "a greater level of care on each of our apparatus not only for the citizens and those passing through, but even our neighboring agencies," Chris Trevino, Deputy Fire Chief of the West Jordan Fire Department said.

Take care of your heart and call 911 if you have any signs of a heart attack or any heart-related problems.

Fun fact: Did you know that if you try to "jump-start" someone's heart with a defibrillator that has flatlined like they do on TV or in movies, that would never work? It's all for drama and show! A flat line means there is no electrical signal in the heart. To encourage it to beat again, medication is the first step. Then once the cardiac monitor picks up a signal, a defibrillator can be used to encourage a steadier heartbeat.

By Erin Dixon