>>413841>Speaking of safety; do you know first aid/cpr?Absolutely.
Used to do it on my own, Red Cross First Aid/CPR/AED class through the local parks & rec district, cost me about $60, cert good for two years.
This last go-round, I talked to HR at work and had them foot the bill for an instructor to come in and do the half-day class on site, got a couple of other people in the office trained up. Worked out real well, and I hope to continue that.
Since I'm well out in the backcountry, basic first aid is pretty important. And since I'm doing a lot more instruction/education (Avalanche, GPS/nav), it's kinda dumb not to have that. Other instructor I teach with did WFR a few months ago, that's something I'd love to do.
As far as the kit goes... don't overthink it. Big ones I carry off the top of my head:
>Bandages - Handful of standard-size band-aids, couple of bigger ones>Gauze, not a lot of it, but enough for scrapes/stabs/roadrash that trails/dualsport riding comes with>Meds: Painkillers (ibuprofen), antihistamine (benadryl), some neosporin>Nitrile gloves. Stash a few of these in a film canister.>Vetwrap. It's like a kickass ace bandage - Sticks to itself but not to skin, disposable, tough. Shit's awesome.>Athletic tape. Use it to hold gauze in place before wrapping the area with vetwrap. Use it to stop blisters. Cheap, and worth having.>Trauma shears. Really useful for cutting off athletic tape/vetwrap bandages... or gear, if someone really fucks up.Really, I think that's pretty much it. I've made slings out of tire tubes, use the water in my camelbak to rinse wounds (pack on the ground, pop the mouthpiece off and press on my pack with a knee to flush it).
>buddy busted his collarbone, earned himself a plate and half dozen screws 