Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation* (CPR) Certification for NYS Children's Camps and NYS Bathing Beaches

Fact Sheet - February 2009

The New York State Sanitary Code (SSC) requires certain staff to possess a valid two-rescuer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification in the code standard or a course accepted by the Department as being equivalent to or exceeding the standard as follows:

  • Children's Camps (Subpart 7-2 of the SSC)- CPR certification is required for the health director and other staff specified in sections 7-2.8 and 7-2.11(a)(5), aquatics director, lifeguards, and certain trip and activity leaders1.
  • Swimming Pools and Bathing Beaches (Part 6 of the SSC)- CPR certification is required for all lifeguards (Supervision Levels I, IIa, IIb).
Provider Certification Title
CODE STANDARD
American Red Cross (ARC)2
  • CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer2
ACCEPTED COURSES
American Red Cross (ARC)2
  • CPR/AED for Lifeguards (new 2009)2
American Heart Association (AHA)
  • BLS Instructor
  • BLS for Health Care Providers3
  • Health Care Providers
American Lifeguard Association (ALA)
  • Professsional Rescuer CPR Instructor-led Course4
American Safety & Health Institute
  • American Safety and Health CPR for Professional Rescuers (CPR PRO)
(Canadian) St. John Ambulance
  • Level C (Basic Rescuer) CPR
Emergency Care and Safety Institute (ECSI-formerly AAOS)
  • Professional Rescuer CPR
  • Health Care Provider CPR
Emergency Care Systems
  • Basic Cardiac Life Support - C
Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada
  • Level C - Basic Rescuer CPR
Medic First Aid5
  • Medic First Aid Basic Life Support for Professionals5
National Safety Council
  • Professional Rescuer CPR
NYC Department of Parks & Recreation
  • Municipal CPR: Basic Life Support
Regional Emergency Medical Services Council of New York City (REMSCO)
  • BCLS for Health Care Providers Course
Workplace CPR
  • Professional Rescuer CPR

*ANNUAL CPR re-certification is required, regardless of expiration date on card

  1. A trip leader of a camp trip that includes an activity where emergency medical care is not readily available or an activity such as wilderness hiking, rock climbing, camping, horseback riding, bicycling, swimming and/or boating shall possess or be accompanied by staff who possess certification in ARC CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer or one of the additional acceptable courses.
     
    An activity leader of an activity on the camp property where other CPR certified staff is not readily available shall possess or be accompanied by staff who possess certification in ARC CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer or one of the additional acceptable courses.
  2. As of 1/1/2009, the ARC CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer course has a two-year certification period. Although the certification is issued for two years, annual CPR re-certification is required, regardless of the expiration date on the card. CPR/AED for Lifeguards, which has identical curriculum to CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer, has a one-year certification period.
  3. Training may be instructor-led, online, or CD/DVD-based. When training is obtained online or by CD/DVD, the course is entitled BLS for Health Care Providers Online, Part 1. Each candidate's skills are practiced and tested in person with an AHA instructor prior to certification issuance.
  4. Certificate must include the words "Instructor-led Course" in the title.
  5. Medic First Aid cards must be accompanied by a "Successful Evaluation Certificate" which indicates that the individual has passed written and performance evaluations.