France distributes emergency manual for households in times of crisis

France distributes emergency manual for households in times of crisis

France is preparing to do a " survival manual " Citizens on " preparing threatening "-including the conflicts on French soil. A spokeswoman for Prime Minister François Bayrou told CNN on Wednesday: "The survival manual should encourage citizens to develop their resilience in crisis situations."

coping with crisis through preventive measures

"The manual deals with natural disasters, technological and cyber incidents, health crises such as Covid-19 as well as security crises such as terrorist attacks and armed conflicts," she added. If Bayrou approved, the 20-page issue will be distributed to households before the summer.

based on the model of Sweden and Finland

The French plan follows updated brochures that were distributed to millions of households in Sweden and Finland. These contain instructions for preparation for military conflicts, communication failures, power failures and extreme weather events. The content of the new brochure will be similar to a French government website that started in 2022 and offers advice on emergency provision.

structure of the survival manual

The manual is divided into three sections and offers practical tips on how to protect yourself and your loved ones in acute dangers. The recommendations include a list of emergency contacts (fire brigade, police and ambulance), the knowledge of which radio station should be visited, and closing all doors in the event of a nuclear accident.

survival and medical care

The manual also recommends that every household community has a “survival kit”, which contains six liters of water, a can with food, batteries and a flashlight to be prepared for power failures. In addition, citizens should compile medical stocks such as paracetamol, compresses and saline solution.

civil responsibility and commitment

"It is very important to be prepared for a crisis, and I think the government takes the right steps," said Moussa Saki, a 19-year-old restaurant employee in Paris. "I'm not worried about a war on French soil, but people need to know what to do, only in case," he added.

skepticism towards armed conflicts

Carine Langlois, 56 years old, is skeptical about the probability of an armed conflict in France. "I don't think there will be a war. It is not the role of President Emmanuel Macron to intervene between Trump and Putin. There are other important matters here in France that require urgent attention," said Langlois.

Need for training

Laurette Mourgue d’Algue, a 25-year-old primary school teacher, describes herself as "opposing war", but considers the manual to be sensible for preventive reasons. "Nordic countries such as Sweden and Denmark are better psychologically prepared than France," said Mourgue d’Algue. "It is important to have basic knowledge of survival, such as dealing with electricity."

The way to citizen participation

The spokeswoman for the Prime Minister told CNN that "the first step towards citizen participation is to be informed about threats and to stay up to date." Commitment can also mean to get involved in associations such as the reservists. "We do everything we can to ensure that the citizens are willing to react in the event of a crisis," she added.

Overview of security policy measures

Earlier this month, Macron announced a "big reform" of the security forces of France, including plans to increase operational reservists from 40,000 to 100,000 to 2035. When visiting a military base in East France, he explained that additional measures for military skills, investments and equipment will be announced in the coming weeks. "Our country and our continent must continue to defend, equip and prepare if we want to avoid a war," emphasized Macron.

"This is the choice we have made and which we will continue to meet. Nobody can predict what will happen in the coming months and years."