I would also highly recommend attending a class on administering first aid. You should be able to find one no problem and get certified in the use of basic first aid.

Don't make the mistake of thinking that second hand gear is no good. You can find some good stuff, and often with a little TLC and a few minor repairs you can get some great gear on the cheap. If you are replacing(or acquiring) a fairly central piece of gear I would recommend a trip close to a car. Nothing worse than having your "new" tent break down on you in the middle of the night. Speaking as someone who just recently got back into backpacking, I can say that these trips can be real eye openers.