Emergency backpack: What to pack for survival

A comprehensive guide from Polish authorities outlines the essential contents of an evacuation backpack, designed to ensure survival for 72 hours during emergencies. The "Safety Guide," prepared by the Ministry of Interior and Administration, Ministry of National Defense, and the Government Security Center (RCB), stresses that every household member, including children, should have such a pack.

Key items recommended include bottled water, water purification filters or tablets, a first-aid kit, and personal medications. The first-aid kit should contain latex gloves, a thermal blanket for each family member, sterile dressings, disinfectant wipes, saline ampoules, a CPR mask, scissors, various sizes of plasters, bandages, a triangular bandage, adhesive tape, and a tourniquet. Beyond personal prescriptions, pain relievers, anti-diarrheal medication, and allergy medication are also advised.

Hygiene items such as soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, a small shampoo, sunscreen, frostbite cream, sanitary pads, tampons, tissues, and a quick-dry towel are also listed. The guide emphasizes the importance of essential documents, including copies on a USB drive, stored in waterproof packaging. These documents include identification, property deeds, medical information, insurance details, birth and marriage certificates, and pension or income statements.

Practical tools like a battery-powered or hand-crank flashlight and radio, a Swiss Army knife or multi-tool, lighter, matches, and a compass are crucial. For electronics, a charged phone, power bank, charger, appropriate cables, spare batteries, and even alternative communication devices like walkie-talkies are recommended. High-nutrition, ready-to-eat food such as energy bars, dried fruits, and nuts should be included, along with seasonal clothing, rain gear, and a bandana or dust mask to protect the respiratory system from smoke.

Finally, the guide suggests packing a sleeping bag, sleeping mat, topographic map, and garbage bags. The article also briefly mentions emergency alarm signals in Poland, including a continuous, modulated siren for three minutes to signal an alarm and a continuous tone to signal its cancellation, though details on other signals and procedures for fire, flood, or power outages are referenced as being in the full guide.