I learned the side stroke, from my mother, and it saved my life. I was swimming too far in a lake, tried to back-float, but the waves kept going into my mouth. I got very tired and frightened, then attempted to side stroke to keep the waves from going into my mouth. It worked and I barely managed to make it back. It took longer to get back because I had to swim at an angle against the waves, but at least I could breathe.