Here is my thinking as I assembled a 'ditch kit'. I made no rule regarding size, except that it had to be something I could clip to my PFD when we are paddling in dicey conditions. I use a carbiner to clip a small dry bag. My other assumptions are that one or more of our party find ourselves in the drink, and we will make it to the nearest reasonable shore to land. We may or may not have our canoes and our 'stuff'.

In the main dry bag, I have 3 sticks of trioxane, strike anywhere matches, a small lighter, 2oz hand sanitizer, a 12oz stainless steel cup w/ handle, a whistle w/ compass & thermometer built in, along w/ a few chicken bouillon cubes, a few packets of cup a soup, some jerky, some cashews, a couple of granola bars, some alum foil, a space blanket. In a small pill bottle I have a small assortment of 1/8 & 1/4oz jigs, a few twister tails, soaked in Gulp Alive juice, a Rapala floater, a small weedless spoon, and a Cicada jig. I also have a live bait rig w/ a small bobber and some 10lb mono. I can make a rod from a green tree. The bobber is so I can attend to other duties while waiting for a strike. The live bait rig is so if I can capture a small frog, crayfish, etc, I can use them for bait. While I know the laws regarding live bait, if it is a survival situation, I will do what is necessary. Even if I leave a jig slightly suspended off the bottom, the bobber will detect a strike.

My assumption is that hypothermia is a likely issue if we are cold & wet. My other assumption is that there is no need to be hungry if we are stranded for a longer period of time (overnight). So, once a fire is going, and the initial needs are met, I will go fishing. Experiance has confirmed for me that it is likely that I can catch panfish or small bass & waldos from shore. So, with this simple kit, I can catch dinner & breakfast if need be.

So, the main needs are food & water, and drying out. Our wet clothes will either dry on us or can be removed to dry on a tree or bush. The dry bag will double as a water container. The fish will be wrapped with a squirt of oil (2oz bottle), & a little spice, into the foil & set baking in the coals. I failed to mention that I also packed a small fillet knife to prepare the fish.

In a second, smaller dry bag, I have a 10'x10' sil nylon tarp w/ a few ropes & stakes. This eliminates the need to build a crude shelter, and the whole thing is very compact & light. It could be a simple windsreen to assist in the drying process, reducing windchill, or cover us if it rains. If we are overnighting, the smaller dry bag becomes the food pack, while the larger one holds 'camp water' to stay hydrated. I also have a small bottle of insect repellant, and a small bottle of sunscreen, because I burn easily. I also have an extra bandanna, which has multiple uses.

I figure if one or more is stranded, there is no need to suffer needlessly. This meets my percieved needs, and your milage may vary.