Live in California
California EMS protocols,
California EMS protocols,
in your pocket.
Offline, county-specific protocols for California EMS providers — searchable, with a full medication reference, hospital finder, and study tools built in.
Covering 17 counties in California · Protocols current as of October 7, 2026
See it in the field
Pocket Protocols showing California's protocols, medications, and hospitals — searchable and fully offline.
What's covered in California
The protocol sets serving California right now.
Alameda County Protocols
976
Flashcards
409
Quiz questions
34
Medications
8
Resources
Central California EMS Agency
September 2026 Update ↗
PDF document
997
Flashcards
529
Quiz questions
32
Medications
50
Resources
Coastal Valleys EMS Agency (CVEMSA)
July 2026 Update ↗
PDF document
509
Flashcards
275
Quiz questions
32
Medications
2
Resources
Contra Costa EMS
Contra Costa public AR2026.10.1 — private update ↗
PDF document
904
Flashcards
501
Quiz questions
28
Medications
17
Resources
El Dorado County EMS
Policies, Procedures, Protocols and Drug Formulary ↗
PDF document
397
Flashcards
198
Quiz questions
31
Medications
10
Resources
Imperial County EMS
July 2026 Update ↗
PDF document
961
Flashcards
484
Quiz questions
31
Medications
56
Resources
Inland Counties EMS Agency (ICEMA)
September 1, 2026 ↗
PDF document
461
Flashcards
230
Quiz questions
31
Medications
50
Resources
Kern County EMS
Revision Date: 06/01/2026 ↗
PDF document
472
Flashcards
245
Quiz questions
33
Medications
59
Resources
San Diego County EMS Office
2026-2027 (eff. 7/1/2026) ↗
PDF document
540
Flashcards
267
Quiz questions
33
Medications
134
Resources
San Joaquin EMS Agency ALS
Version: 1.9.2.1, Effective May 1, 2026 ↗
PDF document
895
Flashcards
467
Quiz questions
27
Medications
34
Resources
San Joaquin EMS Agency BLS
Effective: April 1, 2020 ↗
PDF document
264
Flashcards
135
Quiz questions
7
Medications
21
Resources
Santa Barbara County EMS Agency
Policy 533 Prehospital Treatment Protocols (eff. April 1, 2024; 533-03/533-09b rev. May 1, 2026) ↗
PDF document
329
Flashcards
186
Quiz questions
26
Medications
39
Resources
Study tools for Alameda County Protocols
A few real flashcards and quiz questions from California's own protocols — the full set, plus a spaced-review deck, is in the app.
Flashcards
Adult ACS: assessment indications
ACS indications include chest discomfort, diaphoresis, discomfort or tightness radiating to the jaw, fatigue, shoulder or arm symptoms, dizziness, dyspnea, epigastric discomfort, general weakness, nausea or vomiting, palpitations, ROSC, syncope or near syncope, and anxiety.
Adult ACS-STEMI: ECG finding
A 12-lead ECG with ST segment elevation in two or more contiguous leads indicates STEMI. It may be identified by the paramedic or ECG monitor.
BLS CPR: arrest recognition
Check for responsiveness, absent normal breathing or only gasping, and no definite pulse felt within 10 seconds. Breathing and pulse may be checked simultaneously in less than 10 seconds.
Adult bradycardia: recognition
Bradycardia includes <50 beats/minute, 2nd-degree block or 3rd-degree block.
Adult arrest general: cause assessment
Assess whether arrest is medical or traumatic and proceed to the corresponding cardiac-arrest protocol.
Adult asystole/PEA: initial resuscitation
Use CPR and ECG/AED assessment.
Adult VF/pVT: defibrillator pad configuration
Place defibrillator pads in the anterior/posterior configuration.
Adult refractory VF/pVT: definition
VF/pulseless VT is refractory when 3 defibrillations have been delivered and additional defibrillation is required at any point during resuscitation.
Quiz questions
An adult being assessed for ACS has had the initial 12-lead recorded. How should the ECG be managed during continued care?
- Delay the initial ECG until transport is complete
- ✓ Keep it continuously attached for serial ECGs if cardiac changes are detected
- Use the initial tracing as a reason to omit transport monitoring
- Detach it immediately after the initial tracing
The initial ECG has a STEMI-positive interpretation. What does Adult ACS-STEMI say about obtaining a right-sided 12-lead on scene?
- Complete both initial and second IVs on scene before transport
- Disregard the STEMI-positive interpretation until it is obtained
- ✓ Do not delay transport to obtain it after STEMI has been identified
- Always delay transport until it is obtained
Two rescuers are performing CPR on an adult without an advanced airway. Which compression-to-ventilation ratio matches the BLS CPR summary?
- 3:1
- 15:2
- ✓ 30:2
- Compressions must always stop until an advanced airway is placed
A dialysis patient has weakness and palpitations. Suspected hyperkalemia is being assessed. Which cardiac assessment is specified?
- Use a normal pulse as a reason to omit all cardiac monitoring
- Wait for hospital treatment before any cardiac assessment
- Treat symptoms without obtaining an ECG
- ✓ Cardiac monitor and 12-lead ECG
An unresponsive hypothermic patient is being assessed by a BLS provider. What pulse-check instruction applies before CPR?
- Require the patient to walk to assess circulation
- ✓ Take 30-45 seconds to try to find a pulse and avoid compressions if any signs of life are present
- Begin compressions despite definite signs of life
- Ignore pulse assessment because severe hypothermia always proves death
An adult has symptomatic bradycardia with poor perfusion. IV access or waiting for atropine effect would delay pacing. Which instruction applies?
- Always delay pacing until IV access succeeds
- Treat an ECG alone as a reason to ignore poor perfusion
- ✓ Do not delay pacing to start an IV or wait for atropine effect
- Always delay pacing until atropine takes effect
Sourced from California's EMS authority
Pocket Protocols brings California's EMS protocols into a faster, fully offline app.
- Alameda County ↗
- Field protocols page ↗
- Central California EMS Agency ↗
- Special Memorandums ↗
- Treatment guidelines page ↗
- EMS Special Memos ↗
- Coastal Valleys EMS Agency (CVEMSA) ↗
- EMS policies page ↗
- Policies & protocols page ↗
- Imperial County EMS Policy & Protocol Manual ↗
- Inland Counties EMS Agency (ICEMA) ↗
- Kern County EMS ↗
- San Diego County EMS Office ↗
- San Joaquin EMS Agency Policies & Protocols ↗
- Policy 533 compiled manual (PDF) ↗
California protocols — FAQ
Are California'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 California?
Pocket Protocols covers Alameda, Contra Costa and 15 other counties in California 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 California?
No — Pocket Protocols is an independent app and isn't affiliated with or endorsed by any EMS authority. We bring California's protocols into a faster, fully offline app and link the authority's own source for every set.
How do California 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 California's protocols on every call.
Download Pocket Protocols and keep your county's complete protocol set in your pocket — online or off.