I have gear stowed in my PFD pockets like other do here. I have a rain suit/hat/gloves/hammock first aid kit, in day pack that sits in front of me as I paddle. I lash my packs in, but keep day pack handy in case I go over and wind/waves separate me from canoe.

The day pack will float and I figure IF I go over, I can grab hold and use it as a extra flotation device and make for shore.

After reading his account, I'm wondering what if anything he could of done different/better in the way of keeping hi survival gear closer, even in the situation he found himself in?

I don't paddle rivers/white water, so maybe I'm all wrong about this idea, but here's my thought's on it.

I think I would get a waterproof wet water type back, the kind that rolls down and secures with buckles. I would have all my ditch gear in that , that won't carry practically on my person. I'd have a short floating type line attached to bag, and hooked via carabiner to the D-ring on my PFD.
I have a small rescue knife on PFD that I could use IF bag became entangled and I had to cut myself free.

I know in raging waters the bag might make it harder to swim free, but IF you could make it okay to shore, you'd be far better equipped for survival with maybe a decent tarp/hammock/sleeping bag type rescue blanket/rain suit/ signal mirror/ mini-flare gun and some of those boater type floating smoke flares. A magnesium type fire starter/folding saw/hatchet and maybe a pistol/ pistol grip shotgun might not hurt either.

I'm sure there are drawbacks, but curious about what others think. Every time I read a story like that, I think what I would do in the same situation and how I would avoid his miscues. Of course hindsight is always 20-20, but X-Mas is coming up and you can never be to well equipped in a emergency

As far as a ditch kit is concerned, my focus is mostly on what will be ON ME if I ditch.  Since I'm rarely without my PFD on the water, that's where my initial focus is:

I previously mentioned that one of the large pockets on my PFD is devoted to ditch kit items.  More specifically, this pocket contains:

1. space blanket/sleeping bag similar to the item reference in (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)  I opted for the bag because I feel it provides a better chance of retaining body heat and could serve as an overnite bivy if necessary.  This item is stored in its own plastic bag.

each of the items below are in a snack sized plastic bag and each individual item is stored in a smaller "jewlery sized" plastic bag.

2. small cigarette lighter
3. Swedish fire steel (produces hot sparks and doesn't require the use of a knife like a magnesium stick)
4. Dryer lint (several small bags)
5. Novelty candles (the kind that stay lit even when you try to blow them out)
6. Small bottle of purel hand sanitizer (both for fire starter and antiseptic)

My second large pocket contains a small multi-tool.  I think I may want to add snare wire and fishing line to this pocket (it does SOMETIMES contain a "pony spool" but it will now become a permanent item..

I also have a water resistant fanny pack that travels with me across portages when I'm not in or carrying my PFD.  It also has many of the same items and things like a compass, emergence whistle, signal mirror and so on.  It is always nearby when I'm traveling, but there is no garantee I'll wind up with it if I ditch.

dd

Well here is something completely unexpected. 

I was checking out my ditch kit since this thread got me thinking about it again.  My silver space blanket type sleeping bag is now a mostly clear mylar sleeping bag.  I've had the bag for a few years and have given it a casual inspection after past trips ... just not since I return from trips this season.

I guess I'll be buying a replacement!  So, here is another important tip ... recheck EVERYTHING before you head into the backcountry.

On the good news side, I did confirm that my Swedish fire steel would ignite a Vaseline impregnated cotton ball ... only took a couple or three swipes down the steel and POOF!  BTW:  I added the fire steel to my ditch kit because I do a fair number of early season trips.  It doesn't take too many minutes in icy cold water to make you "ham handed" enough that you probably couldn't operate a typical cigarette lighter.  I can operate the fire steel even wearing gloves!

dd

I always carry a sturdy fixed blade knife and have been experimenting with how to carry a ditch kit. I need to find a comfortable, water resistant, fanny pack. I used to carry a round tin (empty Bear Grease can) about 4 in in diameter and 2 in thick wrapped with duct tape in my PFD. But that made a sizeable lump.

I tried to start a fire in a down pour one time without using my favorite militarty firestarter Trioxane. It was a candle that finally did the trick. I scraped the wet bark from the kindling and shaved the inner wood then dried it over the candle until I had enough to start. Then shaved bark and dried the larger sticks until I finally had a nice fire. The partial serration on my fixed blade KaBar really helped with preparing the wood.

Here's a idea that I picked up in a outdoor survival book.
I think it would be a valuable addition in a cold water ditch kit.
I've used it car camping to warm my sleeping bag.

I don't think many ditch kits will include a sleeping bag, so other than clothes on back and whatever you have in kit, your space blanket/bag along with you fire is what going to keep you warm.

Get some leather sheeting from a craft store. I found some stuff that looks like the leather they use on tool pouches. Cut 1 piece about 12" square and the other piece 12" x 3 ft. You can make it any size you want, the ratio between the 2 pieces is the important thing.

Using a hole punch, punch holes on 3 sides of the square and 3 sides of the rectangle piece, to match the square. I used leather bootlaces to lace them together, going around the edges as you go. When you get done, you have a pouch with enough leather left, to wrap around the pouch, giving you a double layer of protection. Punch 2 holes a couple of inches down from the middle of the rectangle piece. Thread a suitable length of leather/nylon cord to be able to tie packet together.

Depending on conditions, you may/may not be able to keep fire going all day/night?  When you can, heat a suitable sized rock until it's sizzling hot. Be careful of river rocks, they can explode from built up steam. Put hot rock into leather pouch, wrap leather flap and tie off.

Inside a space bag, it will keep you warm for hours. I bought a piece of soapstone for my car camping set-up, but I don't think anyone would want to haul rocks into the wilderness