The First 2,000 Rescues: Initial Mode of Operation

Data from the first 2,000 recorded rescues (you read that right) has been collected, calculated, and collated for all you nerds.

Data Drop....Initial Mode of Operation v Survival Rate

Not surprisingly, the vast majority of all recorded rescues to date happen on a fireground where the initial mode of operations is offensive.

What might be surprising is that in 68 recorded rescues (6% since this question was not initially asked but was added during the first large update to the survey) so far, the fire department started in a defensive posture. As you can see in the raw data and in the graph below 46% of these recorded rescues resulted in a successful save. Like in all things, the more we learn about something, the more questions arise.

• What are your SOGs for going defensive, or going offensive?
• Once you start in a defensive posture, what are your trigger points to transition to an offensive mode?
• Is it possible to be in an offensive mode at a part of a structure (floor, quadrant, area, etc.), while at the same time be in a defensive mode at a different part?
• Do you practice transitioning from offensive to defensive or defensive to offensive operations?
• Etc., etc.

​Initial Mode of Operation v Total Recorded Rescues:
Offensive – 94% (1014/1082)
Defensive – 6% (68/1082)
Initial Mode of Operation v Survival Rate:
Offensive – 68% (692/1011)
Defensive – 46% (31/68)