First Aid Kit Essentials Every Lifeguard Stand Needs

Your lifeguard shift has just started, and you see a kid limping up the beach. It looks like he’s caught his heel on something sharp near the waterline. A shell? A piece of hidden debris in the sand? 

You won’t know until you can examine it.

You reach down for your first aid kit and open it. But instead of seeing a clean, organized set of bandages and gauze, you find curled-up bandages and a soggy roll of tape. 

These are the moments when a lifeguard's first aid kit either helps or fails you. A waterproof first aid kit built for an aquatic environment can make all the difference in an emergency – and when sand, water, and wildlife are possible, you want the best kit you can find.

At Kemp USA, we’ve spent years building and stocking gear for lifeguards and aquatic facilities. We’ve listened to what they need – as well as what fails them all too often in the field. 

And that’s helped us create first-aid kits and other products that meet

Complete Lifeguard Station Setup: Must-Have Equipment Checklist

Get your lifeguard supplies right the first time, and you won’t be scrambling mid-season. A complete station comes down to four primary groups of gear – and having the right materials at the right time can make all the difference in a crisis.

We’ve built out a checklist that walks you through all four groups – rescue and flotation, first aid and medical, communication and surveillance, and environmental and station supplies. 

While your lifeguard station may require specific equipment, this list will help you get started with a baseline that ensures you have everything you need (and stay compliant).

Here at Kemp USA, we’ve spent years manufacturing and stocking gear, and we’ve seen what a well-run station looks like. Here’s our guide to the complete lifeguard station setup.

A COMPLETE LIFEGUARD STATION SETUP – AT A GLANCE

• Rescue & flotation:  rescue tube, rescue can, ring buoy, throw bag, rescue board, PFDs, aquatic spineboard