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                                                                    EXHIBIT 31.1

                                 CERTIFICATION

I, Terry D. Wall, certify that:

    1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Vital Signs, Inc.;

    2. Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain any untrue
       statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary
       to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which
       such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period
       covered by this annual report;

    3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial
       information included in this annual report, fairly present in all
       material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash
       flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this
       annual report;

    4. The registrant's other certifying officers and I are responsible for
       establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as
       defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and
       have:

        a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that
           material information relating to the registrant, including its
           consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those
           entities, particularly during the period in which this annual report
           is being prepared;

        b) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls
           and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date
           of this annual report (the 'Evaluation Date'); and

        c) presented in this annual report our conclusions about the
           effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our
           evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

    5. The registrant's other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on
       our most recent evaluation, to the registrant's auditors and the audit
       committee of registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the
       equivalent functions):

        a) all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal
           controls which could adversely affect the registrant's ability to
           record, process, summarize and report financial data and have
           identified for the registrant's auditors any material weaknesses in
           internal controls; and

        b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other
           employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal
           controls; and

    6. The registrant's other certifying officers and I have indicated in this
       annual report whether there were significant changes in internal controls
       or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls
       subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any
       corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material
       weaknesses.

Date: December 12, 2003

/s/ TERRY D. WALL
 ...........................
Terry D. Wall
Chief Executive Officer








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