Major NATO country's 14-item survival kit for every household as WW3 fears soar
Several countries across Europe have issued their citizens with advice on how to deal with a major incident, such as a breakout of conflict, including instructions on how to put together an emergency kit full of essential items they would need in such a circumstance. Global tensions have increased over the last number of years due to a number of geopolitical incidents, such as Russia's invasion of Ukraine and its subsequent subtle attacks on Europe. More recently, tensions between Europe and the United States have arisen after Donald Trump declared his desire to take control over Greenland.
Governments across Europe have taken action to help citizens feel more prepared for any major events. One of them is France, which last year announced plans to issue its citizens a survival manual which explains how to get ready for a number of situations, such as an armed conflict. The 20-page manual offers tips on how to survive war, a natural disaster, a nuclear leak or an industrial accident. The French government insisted at the time that the manual was not a direct response to any particular global incident, such as the war in Ukraine.
The manual outlines the essential items that rural citizens would need in an emergency kit, which would prove useful in a disaster situation. 14 items are listed in total, making up a checklist of things that would help people in a number of situations, such as an armed conflict or an extreme weather event.
The 14 items that the French government advises people to place in a survival kit are:
- Battery-operated radio
- Medication
- First-aid kit
- Warm clothes and a blanket
- Basic tools such as a can opener and a knife
- Non-perishable foods
- Drinking water (6 litres per person)
- Spare pair of prescription glasses (if you wear glasses)
- Torch with batteries
- Duplicate keys for your house and/or car
- Phone charger
- Cash
- Photocopies of essential documents, which are kept in waterproof envelopes/sleeves
- Games (such as card games) to help pass the time
A spokesperson from the Prime Minister's office said at the time that the manual is designed to improve "the resilience of populations in the face of all types of crisis, whether natural, technological, cyber, or security-related".
Other European countries have issued similar booklets to help their population prepare for such emergencies. In Poland, a list of 21 items is available for citizens, outlining what they would need in case the country found itself in an emergency, such as a conflict.
The "Guide for Crisis and War" document, which was released in 2022, lists items like a whistle, essential documents (such as ID), sleeping bags, lighters or matches, and a piece of string. "During a crisis, the risk of unavailability of electricity, water and food is very high," the advice reads. "Make sure you have everything you need in advance. Your goal is to survive one week."
It also advises attaching a card with a name and address to each bag. Each family member should have their own individual pack.
Countries like Sweden and Finland have issued similar manuals for citizens, listing essential items to have in an emergency kit, as well as other ways they can prepare for a disaster, such as an armed conflict, before it happens.
Professor Anthony Glees, a security and defence expert and lecturer at the University of Buckingham, told The Mirror that the UK should follow suit in distributing such advice to citizens. It comes as the European Commission has said that the EU is facing unprecedented threats - from geopolitical tensions and conflicts, cybersecurity and information manipulation risks, to climate change and increasing risks of natural hazards.
Last year, the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) released material on how to stay safe during nuclear detonation. It advises Brits to identify potential shelters in their homes, places of work, on their commutes and in their schools.
Additionally, it advises Brits to prepare a survival kit with a torch with extra batteries, power banks, a battery-powered AM radio, a whistle, a dust mask, plastic sheeting, scissors, duct tape, wipes, bin bags, plastic ties, a wrench or pliers, a can opener, and local maps.