Lifeguard training.
I did the course at school, whilst still in my exceedingly nerdy phase.
There was a lass in my class who had perhaps the best smallest frame/largest boob ratio I think I've ever seen. Needless to say there was much interest in her and she was in the "in" crowd.
So we all had to do the tow part of the test. You have to tow the "lifeless body" back to the edge of the pool and get them in a position to give mouth to mouth. Any other lifeguards here? If so, is there another way other than putting your arm over their shoulder and holding them under the arm pit? 'Cos if there is I'm glad it wasn't taught.
As the examiner was pairing us up, all the lads moved slowly but surely nearer and nearer this girl all with the same dream. The dream that was awarded to me! All eyes turned to me. A few jealous, a few wondering how much I'd payed the examiner. I felt a nerdbeating not far away.
And so we come to the test itself.
Without wishing to sound misoganystic, she really would never have needed saving. If it weren't for the fact she was so bouyant I don't think I'd have passed.
My arm just reached round, forcing one of her boobs out of the water and into the air, where it floated like a weather balloon fallen to sea. By this time, all other attempts at saving their respective partners had ceased. All eyes were on us, an audible gasp floated out as I had to adjust my hold and copped the biggest accidental grope ever. By the time I had her at the poolside, I was redder than Gordon at Duffygate. Very little was said after this, I was revered amongst nerds, I'd held aloft the chalice of popularity and lived to tell the tale.
( Blind Meach Cautiously optimistic, Tue 11 May 2010, 13:43, 7 replies)

At my son's lifesaving class
they were taught to pull the 'victim' by cupping their hand under the victim's chin, rather than under their arm.

This is quite a recent thing though - probably as a result of the large number of sexual assaults taking place in lifesaving classes. ;-)
(Reverend Fister "a disciplined fuckwit", Tue 11 May 2010, 13:50, closed)

Yeah,
I didn't take her to task for forcing them on me at least. I'm very considerate that way.
( Blind Meach Cautiously optimistic, Tue 11 May 2010, 13:51, closed)

Depends on alert or unconscious
For an alert casualty, we used to use cross chest tow (hand under boob), for an unconscious casualty, an extended tow. When you start, you learn to save unconscious people as they struggle less and are less likely to drown you, like conscious casualties are prone to do (especially if you're grabbing their boobies)
(lardyboy Next stop, Fissplap Central, Tue 11 May 2010, 14:02, closed)

What if they're dead
and you want to bring them back to shore for a dignified burial? What method would expend the least energy? I'm guessing you'd just do a sort of side-stroke, pulling them along by the hair?
(Happybara The jungle came alive and took him, Wed 12 May 2010, 10:03, closed)

hold them underwater
...between your thighs. Then do some sort of breast stroke (no pun intended) or back stroke. That way you'll have both of your arms free
(Tilde, Wed 12 May 2010, 16:07, closed)

But my arms are weaker than my legs.
Surely it would be best to leave the legs free? Also if you're doing (ooer, missus!) breast-stroke then your head is high enough out of the water that people will be able to see you crying.
(Happybara The jungle came alive and took him, Thu 13 May 2010, 11:09, closed)

If it was this same girl,
I would sit astride her and ride her like a surfboard.
( Blind Meach Cautiously optimistic, Wed 12 May 2010, 17:33, closed)