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DEPARTMENT

CH~,S CHRiSTI::

OF HEALTH

CONSUMER, ENVIRONMENTAL AND OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE

PO BOX 369
TReNTON, N.J. 08625-0369

Governor

www.nj.gov/health
MARY E, O'DOWD, M,P,H.
Commissioner

KiM GUI,DAGNJ

Lt. Governor

April 30, 2015

John L. Hunsucker, PhD., PE
President, NASCO
The National Aquatics Safety Company
1002 Avenue L
Dickinson, TX 77539
Dear Mr. Hunsucker:
The New Jersey Department of Health (Department) recently completed a review
of the recognition status of NASCO's lifeguard training certification courses. Following a
careful 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 determined
that the use of this protocol is not supported by the relevant scientific literature, and
therefore, recognition of NASCO's current lifeguard training course with the IWI
protocol is being immediately withdrawn.
Although the Department appreciates
NASCO's argument for maintaining the IWI protocol, given the absence of
endorsements (and in some instances strong recommendations against use of the
protocol) by nationally-recognized, independent rescue and scientific research
organizations, the Department cannot justify continued recognition of NASCO's
lifeguard training course certifications if they include the IWI protocol. Specifically, the
Department uses the American Red Cross and United States Lifeguarding Association
as models for lifeguarding course certification in New Jersey; however, neither
organization currently uses or endorses the IWI protocol. Should such supporting
evidence/endorsements be provided in future, the Department may reconsider this
action. Recognition of NASCO's lifeguard certification course can be reinstated
following deletion of this protocol from NASCO's Lifeguard Textbook and training
course or the provision of a New Jersey (NJ) specific Lifeguard Textbook and
training course that do not include the IWI protocol.

In addition. .t is noted that NASCO's certifications for cardiopulmonary

resuscitation (CPR) and first a dare not currently recognized by the Department. That
.s the Department's Current Recognized Certifications list states specifically: "Note: All
NASCO 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 at
N.J.A.C. 8:26-5.2(b) for at least one person, readily available on premises, with
recognized certifications in standard first aid and professional level infant, child and
adult CPR. Recognition of NASCO's CPR and first aid training course certifications can
be obtained by submitting the corresponding training course curriculums and associated
materials to the Department for review. The CPR course must be at least equivalent to
the current American Heart Association (AHA) CPR Guidelines for professional level
training. Training courses must be either full classroom or "blended" type (part selfdirected, web based and part classroom) courses that include competency skills testing
by a live instructor. The Department acknowledges receipt of NASCO's Advanced First
Aid & CPR for Lifeguards Textbook (Rev 2014); however, given that to our
understanding, NASCO's CPR and first aid training courses are closely integrated into
its lifeguarding courses, we would not be able to recognize the CPR and first aid training
courses/certifications if the lifeguarding courses were not recognized.
Please contact me with any questions or comments at 609-826-4943 or
timothy.smith@doh.state.nj.us.

Timothy Smith, MPH, REHS

Acting Program Manager
Public Health Sanitation and Safety Program
Consumer, Environmental and Occupational
Health Service

TS/pb
c: Joseph Eldridge, Director

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
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

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: chet@nascoaquatics.com.

Sincerely,

Eric Chet Jacobson

Sr. Vice President & Chief Operating Officer
The National Aquatic Safety Company

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

Re: NASCO New Jersey Lifeguard Manual

chetnasco
Joe Eldridge, Loel Mueller, Eric Lieberman

05/12/201506:31

PM

Chot.

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 and
found tilerll

to bn (lcceptatllc:

[JC'i your request

please accept this mossaqo as confirmation
that we have
romstaroo rocoqnrtron of N/\SCO's Ilfuqumej traininq certifications.
includino basic first
aid aml professional
level CPH.

TllorC'fcrc.

\I\/c; will follow with a formal

Please: contact

Thanks

reinstatement

me with any questions

totter as soon as possible

or comments.

TIfTl

Timothy Smith, MPH, REHS

Research Scientist 1
Public Health Sanitation and Safety Program
Consumer, Environmental and Occupational Health Service
New Jersey Department of Health
POBox 369
Trenton, NJ 08625-0369
OFFICE: 609-826-4943
CELL: 609-947-8598
FAX
609-826-4992
timothy.smith@doh.state.nj.us
http://nj .gov/health/phss
Confidentiality Notice: The information contained in this message may be privileged and confidential
information intended only for the use of the individual or entity named above. If the reader of this message
is 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 is
strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify the author immediately
by replying to this message and delete the original message. Thank you.
chetnasco

:,1::

11111.

CCI(}d mou unq

chetnasco@aol.com
timothy.smith@doh.state.nj.us
05/11/201511:27
AM
NASCO New Jersey l.ifequard Manual

Tim,
Good morning,
I have attached two documents.

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 to
hearing back for you soon. When can we receive confirmation that NASCO is once
again fully recognized by the State of New Jersey. As I mentioned earlier, our facilities
are needing to complete their training for weekend operation later this month.
Respectfully,

Due "ClU:t" JacoflMll

Sr. Vice President / COO
The National Aquatic Safety Company
NASCa
Office (979) 693-1071
Fax (979) 693-2071
[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 C
Smith/NJDHSSj