Great thread and lots of good advice. I have a lot of stories about things that have gone wrong during downwind runs after 20 years of guiding folks down the Maliko run. Don’t really want to get into those stories but here’s what I’ve learned.
Extra leash strings are a good idea till you have to try to fish one through the leash plug in rough water especially with cold fingers. I’ve switched to zip ties. Zip ties are much easier to fish through the leash plug and can be used to mend a leash together if the leash breaks.
Rubber strips from old bicycle inner tubes come in handy for cuts. Sometimes you just need to stop the bleeding. I’ve tied them loosely around foreheads, hands, shins and arms and we’ve been able to continue paddling. Luckily haven’t needed them for a tourniquet (knock on wood). I think it could be used for a tourniquet in a pinch but they do make more sophisticated kits like the one mentioned above in this thread.
I found out half way through the run that one of the paddlers was diabetic and struggling to continue so I always carry gel packs now.
I recently lost my phone after a high speed wipe out. It was around my neck under my vest. It sank to the bottom of the ocean somewhere outside of Ho’okipa. I believe the weak string/clips failed. I’ve doubled up on the connecting lines and added flotation to my current phone bag.
I carry tools, whistle, mirror, gels, zip ties, water, rubber inner tube strips in my Vaikobi pfd. My phone is in a bag around my neck. I also have 2"x4" Tegaderm and 2"x4" piece of chamois in the bag with my phone. That can be used on a small cut or a small ding on your board. I carry a vhf radio for runs where I can’t receive cell phone service.