Lithuania Issues Air Raid Safety Guidelines for Public Events

Lithuanian authorities have issued crucial recommendations for citizens attending mass events outdoors in the event of an air raid warning. The primary instruction is to immediately comply with directions from event organizers, security personnel, police, or rescue services.

Organizers are expected to have pre-determined action plans and evacuation procedures for emergencies. Therefore, their instructions are paramount, even if they differ from general guidelines. The advice stresses the importance of remaining calm and avoiding actions that could cause panic or additional confusion among the crowd.

Citizens are urged to move quickly to a safer location, prioritizing nearby shelters such as underground parking garages, underpasses, basements, or sturdy brick or reinforced concrete buildings. If immediate shelter is not accessible, individuals should seek areas offering partial protection from shrapnel and blast waves, like depressions in the terrain, ditches, or walls.

The recommendations also warn against gathering in open squares, near stages, glass structures, billboards, lighting towers, or temporary constructions that could collapse or scatter debris. It is advised not to approach or touch any fallen objects or debris, but to report them to emergency services via phone. In case of a sudden attack with no immediate access to shelter, people should lie flat on the ground, covering their head and neck, and move to safety once the immediate danger passes.