Live in Iowa
Iowa EMS protocols,
Iowa EMS protocols,
in your pocket.
Offline, county-specific protocols for Iowa EMS providers — searchable, with a full medication reference, hospital finder, and study tools built in.
Protocols current as of October 16, 2026
See it in the field
Pocket Protocols showing Iowa's protocols, medications, and hospitals — searchable and fully offline.
What's covered in Iowa
The protocol set serving Iowa right now.
Study tools for Iowa County EMS
A few real flashcards and quiz questions from Iowa's own protocols — the full set, plus a spaced-review deck, is in the app.
Flashcards
Hypertensive Emergencies: Symptomatic hypertension
Symptomatic hypertension is defined on this page as systolic blood pressure greater than 180 or diastolic blood pressure greater than 120; it is treated with Labetalol (Adult) under Advanced Care Guidelines.
Tachycardia: Rate thresholds
Treatment applies to adults who are symptomatic with rates greater than 150 bpm, children with rates greater than 180 bpm, or infants with rates greater than 220 bpm.
Maternal Cardiac Arrest: lateral uterine displacement
If uterus is at or above the umbilicus and additional rescuers are present, perform continuous lateral uterine displacement.
Cardiac Arrest: adult high-quality CPR
Push hard (at least 2 inches [5 cm]); push fast (100-120/min) and allow complete chest recoil; minimize interruptions; avoid excessive ventilation; change compressor every 2 minutes, or sooner if fatigued; if no advanced airway, use 30:2 compression-ventilation ratio.
Termination of Resuscitative Efforts: Paramedic-level indication
An indication to consider termination: Paramedic-level interventions have been initiated, including rhythm analysis, defibrillation when indicated, airway management, and medication administration as per protocol.
Cardiogenic Shock: 12 lead ECG (Basic Care)
If capability exists, obtain a 12 lead ECG and transmit it to the receiving facility for interpretation as soon as possible.
12-Lead ECG acquisition: indications
Chest pain or pressure in any patient over age 25; syncopal episode in any patient over age 25; unexplained respiratory distress; shoulder, arm, or jaw pain without chest pain in patients with past cardiac history or irregular pulse; suspected stroke.
Synchronized Cardioversion: initial joules for SVT
Supraventricular Tachycardia: Adult 100 J; Pediatric 0.5 J/kg.
Quiz questions
Termination of Resuscitative Efforts: for non-traumatic asystole or slow wide complex PEA, which combination supports considering termination?
- ✓ Persisted for 20 minutes and EtCO2 is less than 20 mmHg
- Persisted for 10 minutes and EtCO2 is less than 35 mmHg
- Persisted for 60 minutes from dispatch regardless of EtCO2
- Persisted for 20 minutes and EtCO2 is greater than 20 mmHg
ECG 12-Lead Acquisition: where is lead V4 placed?
- Fourth intercostal space, left sternal border
- Fifth intercostal space, left midaxillary line
- Fourth intercostal space, right sternal border
- ✓ Fifth intercostal space, left midclavicular line
Synchronized Cardioversion: what is the initial energy for an adult with uncontrolled atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter?
- ✓ 200 J
- 150 J
- 100 J
- 120 J
Transcutaneous Cardiac Pacing: what are the initial rate and amperage settings?
- ✓ Rate 60-80 bpm, start at 0 mA
- Rate 60-80 bpm, start at 100 mA
- Rate 40-60 bpm, start at 10 mA
- Rate 100 bpm, start at 50 mA
On the Fibrinolytic Checklist, which finding is an ABSOLUTE contraindication?
- ✓ Suspected aortic dissection
- Pregnancy
- Current use of anticoagulants
- Active peptic ulcer
What is the maximum total Fentanyl listed for chest pain?
- ✓ 200 mcg
- 100 mcg
- 150 mcg
- 300 mcg
Sourced from Iowa's EMS authority
Pocket Protocols brings Iowa's EMS protocols into a faster, fully offline app.
Iowa protocols — FAQ
Are Iowa's EMS protocols available offline?
Yes. Download the protocol set for your area once and every protocol, medication, and hospital is available with no signal — built for basements, rural calls, and dead zones.
Are the protocols specific to my county in Iowa?
Pocket Protocols covers selected areas in Iowa today, not the whole state. Protocol sets are scoped by county, so a provider in a covered county gets exactly the set that governs where they respond, and you can add more than one if you work across areas. Other counties are added as their EMS authorities come on board.
Is Pocket Protocols official, or affiliated with Iowa?
No — Pocket Protocols is an independent app and isn't affiliated with or endorsed by any EMS authority. We bring Iowa's protocols into a faster, fully offline app and link the authority's own source for every set.
How do Iowa protocol updates reach the app?
When the EMS authority publishes a new version and it goes live in Pocket Protocols, the app refreshes automatically — crews are never working from a stale copy. We monitor official sources for changes every day.
Carry Iowa's protocols on every call.
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