Tropical Weather Alert: For the latest updates on closures or modified hours for our UF Health clinical facilities, click here

Full Details
Skip to main content
Update Location

My Location

Update your location to show providers, locations, and services closest to you.

Enter a zip code
Or
Select a campus/region
(352) 733-0111

Electrocardiogram (EKG) - Children

An EKG measures the activity in your heart to decide if it is beating slow, fast, or normal. This test will not hurt.

Your mom and dad can go with you to the EKG.

What happens during an EKG?

  • You will be asked to go into a small room that has a table and a machine that looks like a computer.
  • Then, you will sit up on the table to start the EKG.
  • You will be asked to lift up or unbutton your shirt. The tech will put small sticky patches (electrodes) on your chest. They may feel a little cold but will not hurt.
  • Once the electrodes are all on your chest, they will be connected to wires that plug into the EKG machine. You will need to lie still for about 20 seconds so that the test will work. Sometimes it helps to count to 20.
  • The computer will print out a long piece of paper with lots of lines on it. Your doctor will be able to read these lines and see how well your heart is working.
  • After the test, you can take the wires and the sticky patches off your chest.
Then, you are all done.