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  Southern Technical Aquatic Resource & Rescue

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Southern Technical Aquatic Resource & Rescue, Inc. a legal business entity?

            YES. Southern Technical Aquatic Resource & Rescue (STARR) is and has been a

            legal business since 2011. Initially STARR began as a LLC and later changed to a

            INC. According to the Mississippi Secretary of State Business Services Division,

            which processes the formation of Mississippi corporations, limited liability 

            companies, limited partnerships, and other business and non-profit entities, STARR

            is a business in 'Good Standings'. Here is a copy of the business documents that

            can be view by anyone at:  https//:corp.sos.ms.gov/business-service-regulation then

            scroll down to "Search for Business Entity" , then enter 'Southern Technical Aquatic'

Is Southern Technical Aquatic Resource & Rescue, Inc a legal IRS 501c3 entity?

            YES. In a Determination Letter dated 11 February 2015, Southern Technical 

            Aquatic Resource & Rescue, Inc stating under Internal Revenue Code (IRC)   

            Section 501(c)3 with a public charity status of 509(a)(2).

Is STARR a member of the Better Business Bureau?

            The Better Business Bureau has determined, after careful investigation and 

            consideration, that STARR meets the BBB accreditation standards, which includes

            a commitment to make a good faith effort to resolve any consumer complaints. 

            STARR has built trust in the community and marketplace, provides honest advertise-

            ment, honestly represents products and services in FULL disclosure, is openly trans-

            parent through identifying features, clearly and prominently disclose all material facts

            that bear on a customer's decision. Approaches all business dealings with integrity,

            fulfills all contracts, commitments, and representations. STARR has been a 

            member of the BBB since 2016, with an A+ Rating.

            

Are the instructors that teach courses at STARR certified?

            YES. Ever instructor is certified to teach the course they instruct. Our instructors are certified through AHA, AHSI, Red Cross,

            NAEMT, and IFSAC. According to the American Heart Association, all instructors must posses a valid provider card, 

            successfully complete an instructor course, and teach at least two courses per year. This is also the program policy for AHSI

            and the Red Cross. Those who teach NAEMT courses have completed the provider course, been selected to go through

            the instructor course by Affiliate Faculty, must teach at least two courses annually, and successfully complete any course

            refreshers that are published. Our water rescue instructors, have completed the highest level within that particular water 

            rescue program from outside agencies, have been selected to go through the instructor course by the Advisory Board after

            being nominated by the lead instructors, successfully complete the instructor course, be a certified Fire/EMS Instructor 

            through IFSAC or ProBoard, assist / teach / lead at each course level, and must teach at least two classes annually. Since

            there are NO actually national standards or accredited water rescue courses / instructor courses, STARR follows the NFPA

            standards along with industry standards for instructors. 

Are your courses accredited courses?

            NO. Currently there are no accredited water rescue courses in the United States. All water rescue programs from the various 

            water rescue agencies follow at least the NFPA Standard 1006 and 1670. They collect data from other water rescue 

            resources and using the NFPA Standards produce a manual. This manual is then reviewed by a advisory committee or panel

            made of at least of 10 to 20 individuals from various organizations. The committee or panel reviews the manual and 

            compares the objectives to those found in the NFPA Standards. If the committee or panel feel the material in the manual

            meets or exceeds all the NFPA Standards, then the manual is approved for use. ALL water rescue organizations provide

            students with a certification of completion that verifies the individual completed the requirements to successfully complete

            the course. NO agency currently has a course that offers an accredited certification.

What is the difference between a certificate, certified, accredited?

            CERTIFICATE: is evidence of an educational process or training completion but not that the person or individual is competent

             in the knowledge provide within the course.

            CERTIFICATION: this is a voluntary process whereby providing written assurance that a person, product, or process

            conforms to specified requirements and standards. It is granted by non-governmental agencies recognizing the individuals

            ability to demonstrate the knowledge/skill/competency according to a predetermined, standardized criteria. It has on-going 

            requirements that the individual must demonstrate to maintain the credentials. The agency does this through class instruction

            practical skills assessment, written testing to measure against standards, course evaluations, and continuing education 

             requirements.

             ACCREDITATION: this is a voluntary process in which an agency is evaluated for compliance against certain set of

            established criteria and attestation by a third party agency. This third party agency has demonstrated competence to carry

            out certain duties and tasks. These accreditation agencies must meet the requirements set forth by NCCA, ISO, or

            ACP Procedures Manual for Accreditation.

What types of cert's does STARR offer?

            Currently, STARR offers certifications as we have been working through the Institution for Credentialing Excellence to 

            get our water rescue courses accredited. Therefore, are courses follow STARR Program Administration Manual that is based

            on ICE recommendations, NFPA Standards, other nationally and internationally recognized agencies. According to the 

            SPAM, our water rescue courses use educational class instruction, with demonstration of skills, mastery skills test, a written 

            test, as well as a end of class evaluation. Other courses taught through AHA, ASHI, Red Cross, and NAEMT have their own

            PAM's that our instructors follow. STARR has and will continue to raise the bar in training as we continue to work to get our

            water rescue courses accredited, which will be the first in that industry.

How safe are the water rescue courses?
            The water rescue courses are conducted with the students safety in mind. Therefore, instructors and students conduct a
            risks/benefit analysis each time they go near the water and after leaving the waters edge. However, STARR PAM states that 
            for the Awareness Level course there will be a 1:10 instructor to student ratio. For the Operations Level course there will be a
            a 1:6 instructor to student ratio. The Technician Level will have a 1:4 instructor to student ratio. No student will be used as
            a safety entity as they are learning and not yet ready to perform water rescue skills at that level being used. At the end of
            each training cycle, instructors ask students if there are in injuries or concerns that need to be addressed. In the last 10 yrs
            only two minor injuries occurred 1) was a student that  had an abrasion to their leg and, 2) was an instructor who had an 
            abrasion to their arm - both got flesh eating bacteria because they failed to clean the wound as advised by staff.

What type of qualifications does the STARR staff possess?

            Both owners possess college degrees, while one owner has obtained two Masters degrees, all have some type of college

            education. Our instructors have certifications in a variety of professions from Fire, EMS, to Law Enforcement. Many of the 

            instructors have experience teaching at higher-level educational institutes with very positive results. All instructors that 

            teach a particular course not only has instructor certifications to teach the course but many real-world years of experience

            within that course. We would be happy to show any agency or student the credentials of any instructor.