Of the pest of the Swedes to the iodine tablets of the Finns: the essentials of the survival kits of the different countries

Water, basic foods, medications and even batteries to survive for at least 72 hours in a hypothetical war or other serious emergency. The fundamental articles may seem to survive in a post -apocalyptic world or the indispensable supplies in the pantry of a preparationist, but nothing is further from reality. They are the products of which the European Union has asked its citizens to gather in the face of the increase in geopolitical tensions.

Given the resurgence of the conflict in the Middle East and without great advances in the peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, the European Commission plans to approve on Wednesday the Civil Defense Report Prepared by former Finnish president Sauli Niinistö at the request of the president of the Community Executive, Ursula von der Leyen. They will do so after their analysis in the Europarliament last week as part of the measures to reinforce the security of Europe.

Despite the striking of urging the population to pertrech with the essentials to survive a catastrophe or a war, that of the commission is not a pioneering initiative. In recent months several countries have created similar documents, or some existing ones, in which they encouraged their citizens to provide articles to resist for several days And even weeks to create a survival kit in the possibility of war, terrorist attacks, sabotage, technical problems, pandemics or natural disasters.

Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark Documents have already distributed last year to prevent citizens and created websites with all recommendations. More recently other nations, such as France and Belgium, have adopted similar initiatives to guarantee the survival and well -being of their populations; While Japan disseminates this type of tips since years, fundamentally focused on natural catastrophes.

Finland

In mid -November, Finland published An online guide with instructions and recommendations on how to prepare to face successfully eventual crisis or war conflicts. The document, entitled ‘Preparation for Emergencies and Crisis’, was prepared by about twenty official institutions and Oenegés and is part of the strategy launched by the Government in 2022 to improve the country’s resilience against events of great social impact after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

In this sense, the Finnish executive said that, because of its history and the extensive border he shares with Russia, El País “He has always been prepared for the worst possible threat: war”. Along these lines, he stressed that, in case of conflict, recruits who have fulfilled military service and people forced to provide non -military service will perform their functions.

The tips include instructions for multiple scenarios: what to do in case of a terrorist attack -with indications on how to stop bleeding -to how to face meteorological phenomena, pathogens dissemination or a nuclear attack -for which they recommend have iodine tablets-. They also asked citizens to make sure they could stay autonomously for at least a week so that the authorities can focus on those who need it most.

Sweden

Almost simultaneously, the Swedish government began to distribute throughout the country’s homes -for fifth time since World War II – A brochure with dozens of tips to prepare in these types of situations. «In times of uncertainty, it is important to plan. Military threat levels are increasing. We must be prepared for the worst possible scenario: an armed attack against Sweden, ”says the guide in its first pages. And he adds: “We will not give up, any suggestion that says otherwise is false.”

The document clearly speaks of armed conflicts in the neighborhoods of the countrybut also mentions other forms of aggression to undermine Swedish society, such as cyber attacks, misinformation campaigns, terrorism and sabotage. Regarding war, the text recalls that, from 16 years to 70, citizens residing in national territory or abroad are part of the “total defense” of the State and are “forced to serve.”

As for the necessary articles to survive, the guide recommends being supplied with energy, high in fat, such as The pesto, sun -dried tomatoes in oil, peanut butternuts and seeds. It also urges to bet on foods that can prepare quickly with very little water, a good that calls to store bottled. In addition, he asks not to forget the pets and also have food for them.

Norway

«Storms, natural disasters, sabotage, technical problems, Terrorism or war acts They can make many lose access, for example, to electricity or water, and that it is more difficult to obtain essential goods and supplies, ”the guide published by the Norwegian municipality of Hitra begins, in Brase to the civil protection information of the Scandinavian country.

To deal with these situations, a 20 -page guide explains in detail what to do to survive. One of the main recommendations focuses on drinking water, which invites you to store Around 20 liters per personenough to meet the minimum requirement for a week. About food, the text urgently has enough quantity to survive the first week.

Also, to maintain the temperature, the document advises have shelter clothessuch as blankets and sleeping bags, and candles, matches or lighters. It also urges to have basic knowledge of first aid and material, since, in the first moments of the crisis, it can be “difficult to access the number of medical emergencies or the emergencies.”

Belgium

Another of the states that has advised its citizens to provide essential goods is Belgium, which recognizes that society faces “various risks”, such as “meteorological phenomena, large -scale fires or cyber attacks.” «Geopolitical events in the world too They can threaten the security of our own country. For example, war in Ukraine can cause an increase in certain risks, such as misinformation, gas supply security and the threat of armed conflicts in other parts of Europe, ”they added.

The document urges to have A basic first aid kitthe usual medicines with a support supply, bottled water, mobile charger or an external battery, important documents, a rechargeable driver with crank, a radio to Pilar, a lighter or matches, a Swiss navaya and a evacuation verification list.

France

The last to join this list of countries that call its citizens to protect themselves to different threats has been France. Last week it transpired that the government of François Bayrou is preparing a brochure about practices to prepare in a situation of “crisis.” The document refers industrial accidents, climatic phenomena, cyber attacks or an armed conflict and, although it asks not to focus on the latter, temporality leads to think of a reaction to international tension.

A radio to batteries (including some replacement), medications and a kit, a razor, non -perishable food, shelter clothes, a flashlight, a charger, bottled drinking water “in quantity”, see glasses, cash and photocopies of the essential documents are some of the items recommended by the French executive, Without forgetting board games to kill time in anticipation that the emergency extends more than desirable.

Japan

Japan also has recommendations on what to include in a survival kit, mainly oriented to natural disastersas earthquakes, u Another type of catastropheslike the nuclear accident of the Fukushima Central. Then, the Japanese government developed a list with items such as canned food, water, fried potatoes, rice peanuts, powdered soup envelopes, a thermos, towels, a kit, a map and cash, among others.

Currently, the list prepared by the Japanese Executive contains those elements and others, such as a lighter, sails, a radio, a razor, female hygiene products, gloves, a five -meter rope … now, it is only desired that, both in the Asian country and in all others, this type of kits are necessary In the least number of occasions.