An apparatus including a chest strip comprising a plurality of precordial and limb leads for an electrocardiogram (ECG) and an ECG data recorder coupled to the chest strip, wherein the ECG data recorder configured to receive signals from the leads. An apparatus including a chest strip comprising a plurality of precordial leads positioned to correspond with desired lead placement for an electrocardiogram (ECG) and an ECG data recorder a plurality of limb leads coupled to the chest strip, wherein the ECG data recorder is coupled to plurality of precordial leads and the plurality of limb leads and configured to receive electrocardiogram data generated by the plurality of precordial leads and the plurality of limb leads. A method including coupling a chest strip including precordial leads and a data recorder to a newborn, the data recorder configured to receive electrocardiogram data from the precordial leads and transmitting electrocardiogram data from the data recorder.
