What do I do?

Preparing for incidents and crises

The content has been scaled based on the preliminary questions. You can edit the answers on the guide's start page.

Checklist for preparing for incidents and crises

On this page you can find a summary of the key instructions for preparing for incidents and crises. The instructions will be displayed based on the selections you made on the start page.

Basic knowledge and skills help you cope with many situations

Preparedness means preparing for various incidents, crises and emergency conditions in advance. By thinking things through beforehand, your everyday life will be disrupted as little as possible if something unusual happens.

You will be able to cope with most situations when you:

Stay calm.
Think about how the situation might affect you and your loved ones, and what instructions you already know that apply.
List the most important things to do in the situation and take action.
Follow official communications.
Follow the instructions.
Help others to the best of your ability.

Home emergency supplies lay the foundation for preparedness

Having supplies for at least three days provides an excellent basis for many situations. Remember that even a small stock of home emergency supplies can help meet your everyday needs if you are unable to get everything you need.

Home emergency supplies include

bottled water and clean lidded containers for storing water
ready-to-eat and easy-to-cook foods that you use in your regular everyday life
a radio that runs on batteries or otherwise without mains power
a flashlight or some other light that runs on batteries or otherwise without mains power
a charged backup power supply
essential medicines that last you a little longer
hygiene supplies that allow you to stay clean without water
a small amount of cash
duct tape for sealing windows and vents
iodine tablets if there is someone in your household who is aged 40 or younger, pregnant or breastfeeding
also enough food and water for your pets.

Pay attention to functional capacity in preparedness

Ways of preparing depend on a person’s ability to cope with different situations.

Use the questions below to consider how, for example, ageing, disability or illness might affect your home emergency supplies and preparedness:

How will the incidents specifically affect your everyday life?
What restrictions should be taken into account?
What can you do yourself and where do you need help from others in various situations?
Who could help you the quickest if something happened?
Should you improve your safety net?

Epidemics and pandemics

Epidemics and pandemics are highly infectious diseases that everyone can help prevent through good hygiene and vaccinations. You can prepare for epidemics and pandemics by thinking ahead about how a serious health emergency could affect your life and the lives of your loved ones.

Each epidemiological situation is unique and requires appropriate measures. The most important thing is to follow the instructions and recommendations of the authorities and healthcare.

Preparedness instructions in print and in sign languages