I always heard you should try to have an empty milk jug or laundry jug attached to a rope to rescue someone in distress while swimming. The distressed person has something floatable to hang on to, and you can pull them in safely. Too often two people drown when someone is in acute distress in the water. SO glad there were so many people there to help and it ended up o.k. I think the milk jug on a rope should be part of everyone's bar or establishment as part of their first aid kit, if that place is located near water.