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The New Jersey Department of Health (Department) recently
completed a reviewof the recognition status of NASCO's lifeguard
training certification courses. Following acareful evaluation of
the appropriateness of NASCO's in-water-intervention (IWI)protocol,
which specifies the use of up to five abdominal thrusts on an
unconscious,non-breathing drowning victim while still in the water,
the Department has determinedthat the use of this protocol is not
supported by the relevant scientific literature, andtherefore,
recognition of NASCO's current lifeguard training course with the
IWIprotocol is being immediately withdrawn. Although the Department
appreciatesNASCO's argument for maintaining the IWI protocol, given
the absence ofendorsements (and in some instances strong
recommendations against use of theprotocol) by
nationally-recognized, independent rescue and scientific
researchorganizations, the Department cannot justify continued
recognition of NASCO'slifeguard training course certifications if
they include the IWI protocol. Specifically, theDepartment uses the
American Red Cross and United States Lifeguarding Associationas
models for lifeguarding course certification in New Jersey;
however, neitherorganization currently uses or endorses the IWI
protocol. Should such supportingevidence/endorsements be provided
in future, the Department may reconsider thisaction. Recognition of
NASCO's lifeguard certification course can be reinstatedfollowing
deletion of this protocol from NASCO's Lifeguard Textbook and
trainingcourse or the provision of a New Jersey (NJ) specific
Lifeguard Textbook andtraining course that do not include the IWI
protocol.
Dear Mr. Hunsucker:
John L. Hunsucker, PhD., PEPresident, NASCOThe National Aquatics
Safety Company1002 Avenue LDickinson, TX 77539
April 30, 2015
MARY E, O'DOWD, M,P,H.Commissioner
KiM GUI,DAGNJLt. Governor
www.nj.gov/health
~~i;tft-~.k';';' ~'~.-;;-;;'1,', -::r :'~ "=-"
~tate of ~.efn 3J.er5~DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
CONSUMER, ENVIRONMENTALAND OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH SERVICEPO BOX
369
TReNTON, N.J. 08625-0369CH~,S CHRiSTI::
Governor
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TS/pbc: Joseph Eldridge, Director
Timothy Smith, MPH, REHSActing Program ManagerPublic Health
Sanitation and Safety ProgramConsumer, Environmental and
OccupationalHealth Service
Please contact me with any questions or comments at 609-826-4943
[email protected].
In addition. .t is noted that NASCO's certifications for
cardiopulmonaryresuscitation (CPR) and first a dare not currently
recognized by the Department. That.s the Department's Current
Recognized Certifications list states specifically: "Note: AllNASCO
lifeguard courses no longer include basic first aid and
professional level CPR."As such, these certifications cannot be
used to fulfill the requirement in the PRB rules atN.J.A.C.
8:26-5.2(b) for at least one person, readily available on premises,
withrecognized certifications in standard first aid and
professional level infant, child andadult CPR. Recognition of
NASCO's CPR and first aid training course certifications canbe
obtained by submitting the corresponding training course
curriculums and associatedmaterials to the Department for review.
The CPR course must be at least equivalent tothe current American
Heart Association (AHA) CPR Guidelines for professional
leveltraining. Training courses must be either full classroom or
"blended" type (part self-directed, web based and part classroom)
courses that include competency skills testingby a live instructor.
The Department acknowledges receipt of NASCO's Advanced FirstAid
& CPR for Lifeguards Textbook (Rev 2014); however, given that
to ourunderstanding, NASCO's CPR and first aid training courses are
closely integrated intoits lifeguarding courses, we would not be
able to recognize the CPR and first aid
trainingcourses/certifications if the lifeguarding courses were not
recognized.
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NASCO
The National Aquatic Safety Company LLC.
1002 Ave. L, Dickinson, Texas 77539
(281) 337-5628 Fax (281) 337-0043
Our Mission: To Reduce the Loss of Life Due to Drowning 1
May 11, 2015
Timothy Smith, MPH, REHS Research Specialist 1 Public Health
Sanitation and Safety Program Consumer, Environmental and
Occupational Health Services New Jersey Department of Health PO Box
369 Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0369 Good morning,
On May 7, 2015, NASCO received a certified letter from your
office that was dated April 30,
2015. In this letter it stated that the State of New Jersey
would not recognize NASCOs
current lifeguard training program due to the utilization of the
In the Water Intervention or, IWI
protocol. And additionally the NASCO first Aid and CPR
certifications were not currently
recognized by the state as they were believed to not include
basic first aid and professional
CPR.
Following this communication with your office, I called and
spoke with you on what NASCO
needed to do to become recognized in all three areas,
Lifeguarding, First Aid, and
Professional CPR.
We discussed, as stated in your letter, that if NASCO removed
the IWI protocol from our
lifeguard training materials for the state of New Jersey, and
this textbook was resubmitted,
then it would be placed on the fast track for review and
recognition by the States Health
Department. And the First Aid and Professional CPR material that
were present in this
textbook would also be recognized as well as they too would meet
the at least equivalent to
the American Heart Association (AHA) CPR Guidelines.
All of our certification program courses may utilize a study
guide that the students can answer
before class to prepare for the class room setting, but all of
our students learn the material in
a classroom or pool deck setting, and are skill tested for
competency by a live instructor.
I have forwarded to you a New Jersey Specific NASCO Lifeguard
Training Textbook where
the IWI protocol has been removed and the first aid and CPR
sections are at least equivalent
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NASCO
The National Aquatic Safety Company LLC.
1002 Ave. L, Dickinson, Texas 77539
(281) 337-5628 Fax (281) 337-0043
Our Mission: To Reduce the Loss of Life Due to Drowning 2
to the American Heart Associations guidelines. This textbook
will be the material that the
facilities in New Jersey will utilize when conducting NASCO
courses.
If there are any questions, please let me know, I will be happy
to answer them and provide
additional information that may assist you in rapidly
recognizing our program.
Would it be possible to receive correspondences from your office
via e-mail, and if a certified
letter is required, it can follow? That would hopefully
facilitate a faster response to your
inquiries, and once approved, allow our facilities to prepare
for the 2016 season in a timely
manner. A preferred e-mail would be: [email protected].
Sincerely,
Eric Chet Jacobson Sr. Vice President & Chief Operating
Officer The National Aquatic Safety Company
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Tim,Good morning,I have attached two documents.
[email protected]@doh.state.nj.us05/11/201511:27
AMNASCO New Jersey l.ifequard Manual:,1::
11111. CCI(}d mou unqchetnasco
Confidentiality Notice: The information contained in this
message may be privileged and confidentialinformation intended only
for the use of the individual or entity named above. If the reader
of this messageis not the intended recipient, or the employee or
agent responsible to deliver it to the intended recipient,you are
hereby notified that any release, dissemination, distribution, or
copying of this communication isstrictly prohibited. If you have
received this communication in error, please notify the author
immediatelyby replying to this message and delete the original
message. Thank you.
Timothy Smith, MPH, REHSResearch Scientist 1Public Health
Sanitation and Safety ProgramConsumer, Environmental and
Occupational Health ServiceNew Jersey Department of HealthPOBox
369Trenton, NJ 08625-0369OFFICE: 609-826-4943CELL: 609-947-8598FAX
[email protected]://nj
.gov/health/phss
Thanks TIfTl
Please: contact me with any questions or comments.
\I\/c; will follow with a formal reinstatement totter as soon as
possible
TllorC'fcrc. [JC'i your request please accept this mossaqo as
confirmation that we haveromstaroo rocoqnrtron of N/\SCO's
Ilfuqumej traininq certifications. includino basic firstaid aml
professional level CPH.
V'Jc: r t~WC r(:vl(:'Nocl th(; NASC'O Letter {O NJ f-f('(1lth
Dept (rv1av 1 I. 2(15) and the NEVV,JEF?SEY NASCO t.itecnuutt
Tt:x/t)()ok M~IY 20 r 5 1 documents that you provided andfound
tilerll to bn (lcceptatllc:
Chot.
05/12/201506:31 PMRe: NASCO New Jersey Lifeguard Manual
chetnascoJoe Eldridge, Loel Mueller, Eric Lieberman
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[attachment "NASCa Letter to NJ Health Dept (May 11. 2015).doc"
deleted by Timothy C Smith/NJDHSSj[attachment "NEW JERSEY
NASCO-Lifeguard-Textbook-May_2015_1.docx" deleted by Timothy
CSmith/NJDHSSj
Due "ClU:t" JacoflMllSr. Vice President / COOThe National
Aquatic Safety CompanyNASCaOffice (979) 693-1071Fax (979)
693-2071
Respectfully,
One is a cover letter explaining the Changes made in our manual
for our NJ Facilities.The second is the NASCO New Jersey Lifeguard
Manual.I hope that they are satisfactory for the State of New
Jersey, and I look forward tohearing back for you soon. When can we
receive confirmation that NASCO is onceagain fully recognized by
the State of New Jersey. As I mentioned earlier, our facilitiesare
needing to complete their training for weekend operation later this
month.
