United States Lifesaving Association
New Jersey Certification Office
PO Box One
Avon-By-The-Sea-By-The-Sea, NJ 07717
jerseycert@aol.com for email Correspondence
New Jersey
Recreational Bathing Code for the
purposes of New Jersey Certification
Certification Notes
Requirements for First Aid Training and requirements for Trainee
Training are clarified below. These two areas seem to be
misunderstood more than any others as training plans are
submitted and in-service training is carried out on open water
beaches. When beach managers submit rosters, their signature
attests that these as well as all other USLA Open Water
Lifeguard training standards are met by all personnel.
Another requirement that is often stated incorrectly is the
minimum swim requirement: 500 meters (not yards) in ten minutes
or less. 550 yards in ten minutes or less may be substituted.
FIRST AID TRAINING
First Aid (seasonal lifeguards): All seasonal lifeguards, except
trainees, are certified as having successfully completed a first
aid course accepted by the Federal Government or by the state
government in the state of employment. Total first aid training
must be no less than 21 hours, not including the time involved
in CPR or other lifeguard training. If the formal first aid
course is less than 21 hours in length, specifically detail what
additional formal training is provided to meet the21 hour
requirement. This must be individually listed, including the
number of hours of each training module.
[USLA Guidelines for Open ‘Water Lifeguard] Agency Certification
The first aid training requirement supports the USLA philosophy
that every lifeguard will be able to function independently in
response to whatever emergency that may be encountered while on
duty. The USLA recommends that all lifeguards complete a First
Responder first aid course based on the US Department of
Transportation (DOT) guidelines. This course is in excess of
forty hours and thus may not be feasible for some seasonal
agencies. An available alternative is the minimum 21 hour course
designed to meet local conditions. Most agencies that adopt this
option reference the American Red Cross Community First Aid
Course. Community First Aid includes only 2˝ hours of first aid
training exclusive of CPR training. It is designed for home or
neighborhood applications; it is not intended for personnel with
a duty to respond to medical emergencies. If the 21 hour option
is referenced for first aid training, a listing of additional
training modules that brings the total training to at least 21
hours (not including CPR training) must be provided. An example
of such a listing is on the reverse side of this publication.
The qualifications of the instructor(s) teaching the course must
also be provided.
LIFEGUARD TRAINING
Lifeguard Training: All lifeguards, except trainees, are
certified as successfully completing a course consisting of a
total of not less than 40 hours in open water lifesaving. This
shall not include the minimum training time required for first
aid and CPR.
[USLA Guidelines for Open ‘Water Lifeguard Agency Certification]
This is the preferred method of conducting a training academy
prior to assignment as a lifeguard with a duty to respond. The
curriculum must include all the training outlined in the USLA
Required Course Curriculum Checklist (see USLA Guidelines for
Open ‘Water Lifeguard Agency Certification available at
www.usla.org).
TRAINEE
Open Water Lifeguard Trainee: An Open Water Lifeguard Trainee is
a lifeguard in training. This category was created to address
the needs of some agencies to train lifeguards in-service,
rather than the preferred method of conducting a training
academy prior to assignment. First aid and CPR training must be
given before the lifeguard is given any assignment on the beach.
The remaining training must be provided within 30 calendar days
from the first day of deployment of the lifeguard. Open Water
Lifeguard Trainees may work only under the direct and immediate
supervision (side-by-side in the same station or area) of a Full
Time Open Water Lifeguard or a Seasonal Open Water Lifeguard,
either with at least 1,000 hours experience.
[USLA Guidelines for Open ‘Water Lifeguard Agency Certification]
Under USLA guidelines, pre-service training, with the exception
of medical aid and CPR training, may be integrated into the
first 30 days of actual lifeguard beach work. This is
permissible only if trainees work under the direct and immediate
supervision (side-by-side in the same station or area) of a
lifeguard with at least 1,000 hours of experience. The ratio of
experienced lifeguards to such trainees may be no greater than
one to one. The training accomplished utilizing the trainee
option must include all the training outlined in the USLA
Required Course Curriculum Checklist (see USLA Guidelines for
Open ‘Water Lifeguard Agency Certification available at
www.usla.org).
