First Aid Certification for NYS Children's Camp Staff

Fact Sheet – January 2008

Subpart 7-2 of the State Sanitary Code requires the health director, other staff specified in section 7-2.8, and certain camp trip and activity leaders1 to possess valid certification in the code standard first aid course, or a course accepted by the Department as being equivalent to or exceeding the standard.

Some medical personnel may possess training and experience that is equivalent to or exceeds this certification requirement (i.e., emergency room (ER) physician or ER nurse). A résumé or list of qualifications should be submitted to the local permit-issuing official for evaluation.

Provider Certification Title
Code Standard
American Red Cross (ARC)
  • Responding to Emergencies (RTE)
Accepted Courses
American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons Emergency Care and Safety Institute (AAOS/ECSI)
  • Advanced First Aid
  • Advanced First Aid Level 2
  • Advanced First Aid Level 3
  • Wilderness First Aid Basic
  • Wilderness First Aid Advanced Level
ARC
  • Emergency Response
  • Wilderness First Aid Basics
American Safety & Health Institute
  • Basic Wilderness First Aid
  • Wilderness First Aid
  • Wilderness First Responder
  • Wilderness EMT
Canadian Red Cross Society
  • Standard First Aid
(Canadian) St. John Ambulance
  • Advanced First Aid - Level 1
  • Advanced First Aid - Level 2
National Safety Council (NSC)
  • Advanced First Aid
  • First Aid Taking Action
  • First Responder
  • National Safety Council Wilderness First Aid For Remote Locations5
National Ski Patrol
  • Outdoor Emergency Care Technician
New York State (NYS)
  • Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
  • Certified First Responder
SOLO Wilderness Emergency Medicine
  • Wilderness First Aid
  • Wilderness First Responder
  • Wilderness EMT
Wilderness Medical Associates
  • Wilderness Advanced First Aid
  • Wilderness First Responder
  • Wilderness EMT
  • Wilderness First Aid 16 Hours4
Wilderness Medicine Institute of the NOLS
  • Wilderness Advanced First Aid
  • Wilderness First Responder
  • Wilderness EMT

At a SUMMER DAY CAMP, when the children's camp activities do not include aquatics, the camp's programs are limited to minimal physical activity, and emergency medical care and consultation is available in less than 5 minutes, the following certifications may be substituted for the Code standard above.

Provider Certification Title
American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS)
  • First Aid
ARC
  • Community First Aid and Safety
  • Lifeguard Training - Community First Aid & Safety
American Heart Association
  • Heartsaver First Aid
ARC
  • Standard First Aid
  • First Aid Basics
  • Workplace First Aid
  • First Aid
American Safety & Health Institute
  • Basic First Aid - Universal2
Medic First Aid3
  • Medic First Aid Basic3
  • Medic First Aid Pediatric3
  • Medic First Aid Emergency Care3
EMS Safety Services Inc.
  • First Aid
  • First Aid and CPR
NSC
  • Standard First Aid
  • First Aid – Level2
Workplace CPR
  • Emergency Rescue

*FIRST AID CERTIFICATIONS ARE VALID FOR A MAXIMUM OF THREE YEARS

  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 certifications in ARC RTE or one of the additional acceptable courses.

    An activity leader of an activity on the camp property where other staff certified in first aid in accordance with Section 7-2.8 of Subpart is not readily available, shall possess or be accompanied by staff who possess certifications in ARC RTE or one of the additional acceptable courses.

  2. Universal must be checked on the card face.
  3. Medic First Aid cards must be accompanied by a "Successful Evaluation Certificate" which indicates that the individual has passed written and performance evaluations and the course included modules on Burns, Bites, Stings, Exposure to Heat, Exposure to Cold and Splinting Painful, Swollen, or Deformed Limbs.
  4. Wilderness Medical Associates course entitled "Wilderness First Aid option B – 16 Hours" is not acceptable.
  5. Only expiration dates of 12/31/07 or earlier are valid.