When I was in lifeguard training, they taught us how to deal with a struggling victim. It was a bit like aikido in the water, except that a panicking victim is

When I was in lifeguard training, they taught us how to deal with a struggling victim. It was a bit like aikido in the water, except that a panicking victim is probably stronger. The following year they changed the "rules" and the instructor (who was also a teacher in my high school) said that we were now to keep an eye on a struggling victim, and attempt a rescue only after they stopped struggling. I think they'd had too many lifeguards end up in need of rescue themselves when they went after a panicked victim and got yanked underwater.