My last class of students also did some rescue skills for the first time in sidemount. It was an eye opener for them. This was an advanced nitrox and deco class.
We found the easiest way to recover an unconscious diver to the surface was from above their back. In essence them face down and you are positioned facing down as well from above them. You can hold a reg in their mouth and still work their inflator' dump, and Drysuit dump. We were originally taught in back mount to roll them over on their back and kinda do a half Nelson a round them to hold reg and work inflator. Or to drag by their manifold.
It was a very different experience.