How to prepare for an emergency (2024)

Many establishments, such as shops, pharmacies, and banks, may be closed in an emergency. Therefore make sure you have a supply of food, water, medicine, cash, and the things you need at home. For tips on this, see the sections “How to prepare a water supply,” “What food to stock up on for home and a survival kit,” “How to prepare a first aid kit.”

The supply of electricity, water, gas, heat, telephone, mobile, internet, ATMs and bank terminals, shops, and pharmacies may be entirely or partially blocked in the event of military actions.

If you live in a private house, equip the simplest shelter in your basem*nt.

Offer older neighbors or people who cannot move on their own to help prepare a home and a survival kit and take them to the shelter if necessary.

What to do in case of flooding?

Due to the hostilities in Ukraine, there is a threat of dams, reservoirs, and locks being breached or deliberately destroyed by Russian troops. In the event of an emergency – flooding – it is important for the population to prepare in time.

The most dangerous places in cities and villages are

• river basins
• tributaries of rivers

First of all, it is necessary to follow the instructions and recommendations of local authorities and rescuers.

Flooding as an emergency situation

In the event of sudden flooding or the destruction of hydraulic structures, rescue services and local authorities will notify the public with sirens or loudspeakers.

If you hear such a warning or see water approaching, follow these rules when you are in the house:

While in the car:

• never risk driving through a flooded road
• If it’s impossible to drive any further, quickly get out of the car, find a safer place on an elevated area and call for help

If you get into the water

• take off heavy clothes and shoes
• check for floating or elevated objects nearby that you can grab onto and use until help arrives
• don’t swim near electric poles: the wires may be energized, stay away from them as far as possible
• don’t overcrowd rescue boats or rafts

If you see a person who has fallen into the water, act carefully:

when rescuing, don’t enter water that is higher than the knee, because a strong current can knock you down and carry you away

find objects that can help: a rope, a stick, a boat

If possible, pull the person to the shore

• If the person is conscious, turn him or her over onto his or her back and fix the cervical spine so that he or she can breathe freely. Cover the person to keep them warm. Call the rescuers.
• If the person loses consciousness, call rescuers and start cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

If you have been informed of the flooding in advance and have time to prepare, listen carefully to the emergency information and keep your radio or TV on. Warn your neighbors and find out from the local authorities where to gather for evacuation. Prepare an emergency suitcase, turn off the electricity and turn off the gas. If possible, move things from the ground floor to higher floors and move cattle to a safe place. Put fuels, oil and hazardous substances in a safe place on higher ground so that they don’t contaminate the environment.

Seasonal flooding: how to prepare?

In the fall, winter, and spring, some regions of Ukraine suffer from seasonal flooding. If you live in a risk area or have been warned about flooding in advance and are unable to move to a safe place for a while, you should

1. collect enough water for yourself and your cattle: it is strictly forbidden to drink water from flooded wells
2. Prepare sandbags to block the entrance to the premises and exterior walls up to a height of 1 meter
3. Keep valuables on the upper floor

What to do after a flood

After the water has drained and rescuers allowed to return home, check the following and follow the rules before entering and staying inside:

Ensure that you have a water supply for yourself and your family for at least 72 hours.

If you are not sure about the quality of drinking water, we recommend having supplies for additional cleaning — filter jug ​​for mechanical water purification or tablets for quick disinfection of water.

Prepare two first aid kits – one for emergencies (for example, in case of injury), the other for your household needs (pain relief, elimination of symptoms of poisoning, elimination of allergic reactions, etc.).

Emergency first aid kit:

What to cook when there is no electricity

In case of power outages and other emergency situations, we advise you to stock up on canned goods and dry sublimated food in advance. Nowadays, in stores, there is a large selection of such dishes: soups, porridges, purees. To use them, it is enough to fill them with cold water.

Some cereals do not need to be boiled, it will be enough to only pour water and leave them for a while. So we advise you to have them in stock.

Porridge, for the preparation of which boiled water is needed

• Barley porridge. Pour boiled water and leave for 2-3 hours.
• Millet porridge. Pour boiled water and wait 1 hour for infusion.
• Wheat porridge. Pour boiled water and wrap the bowl in a blanket to keep the warmth. Wait 30-50 minutes for infusion.
• Bulgur. You can cook small or medium sized bulgur without boiling. Small bulgur is infused in boiling water in 20 minutes, medium – 40 minutes.

Porridge, for the preparation of which cold water (kefir or milk) is enough

• Buckwheat porridge

Brown buckwheat is sold in stores already prepared. It is marked on the package that it is fried and dried. If there is no gas or electricity, cereals can be pre-soaked in room temperature water, milk or kefir. It should be infused for 5 to 10 hours. Therefore, it is better to soak it overnight.

• Pearl porridge

This cereal can be poured with both boiling and plain water. But it should be infused in cold water for 10 to 24 hours. Therefore, it is better to pour it in the evening.

• Couscous

Cereals filled with cold water are enough to leave for 20-30 minutes for preparing. If there is hot water, 5 – 10 minutes will be enough.

• Oatmeal (or oat flakes)

To cook in cold water, leave to infuse for 30 minutes or an hour. In boiling water – 20 minutes is enough.

• Semolina porridge

Pour cold water or milk over the semolina, cover and let it steep for 15-20 minutes.

• Quinoa

Cover with cold water and leave overnight.

All the listed cereals can also be prepared in a thermos. One hour of boiling on the stove equals 4-5 hours of infusion in a thermos.

What candles to buy in case there is no light

Due to power outages, Ukrainians are advised to stock up on candles. We explain what types exist and how they differ.

Beeswax candles

The most ecological, safe and without pungent smell. Such wax practically does not burn, but only melts. When burning doesn’t leave soot.

Sometimes a part of paraffin is added to the composition of the mass in a strict percentage correlation so as not to break the natural properties of the wax. However, if the wax candle has horizontal cracks and crumbles easily, it means that it contains more than 30% of paraffin.

Such candles cost more than others due to the high cost of the raw materials. The price starts from 100 UAH for a set of thin (“church”) candles.

The burning time depends on the size, but the smallest ones from the store burn for up to an hour.

Vegetable wax candles (stearin)

Stearin is produced from various oils, for example, palm oil. Stearin candles are easy to recognize: they are matte, and after burning, a transparent layer with a pattern similar to snowflakes is formed.

• Palm wax candles. Solid and non-greasy material. Burns almost without smell. However, it is fragile – it is easy to break.
• Soy wax candles. Matte white in color, when heated, the material becomes liquid and transparent with a “milky” smell.
• Coconut wax candles. More expensive than palm and soy, they also burn longer than others (1 cm – up to 5 hours). However, they are rarely found in stores.

Such candles emit a concentrated aroma, so they are recommended for use in large spaces.

Prices for candles made of vegetable wax: from 100 UAH for a small candle. The burning time depends on the size, but the smallest ones burn up to 45 minutes.

Paraffin

Paraffin is a product of oil distillation. Without impurities and without additional cleaning, it has an unpleasant smell. There are candles made of high-purity paraffin, those in which aromas are added.

The more poorly cleaned paraffin is in the candle, the more soot, uneven flame and black “fouling” during burning.

You shouldn’t overuse paraffin candles, burning them one by one. It is better to take short breaks and ventilate the room.

Their only advantage is that they are cheap. The price of the smallest paraffin candle starts at 20 UAH.

The burning time depends on the size, but the smallest ones burn in half an hour.

Gel candles

They are made from gel-like synthetic hydrocarbons. These candles are safer than those made of technical paraffin. But there is a nuance in gel candles – a decorative filler. When burning, fabric and plastic can give out an unpleasant smell, in addition, they ignite easily and the fire can become uncontrollable. Therefore, it is better to buy gel candles with stones that will not ignite.

The burning time is an average of 4 hours (but it depends on the size). The average price is 250 hryvnias.

How to make a candle with your own hands

Long-burning candle

From one 30 centimeters long wax candle, you can make 6 long-burning candles, each of which will burn for 10-12 hours.

What is needed:

• a small jar, a glass or a cup with thick glass
• paraffin candle
• wax candle
• pinch of salt
• oil (refined without odor)
• knife
• matches or a lighter

How to make:

1. Divide the wax candle into several parts approximately 5 centimeters each.
2. Drop a little melted paraffin on the bottom of the container and, until it hardens, fix a piece of candle on it.
3. Pour oil into the container, add a pinch of salt, which will remove moisture from the oil.
4. A long-burning candle is ready.

Potato candle

What you will need:

• small plate (made of glass or clay)
• potato
• improvised wick – a rope made of natural fabric, gauze, bandage or lace
• oil (refined without odor)

How to make:

1. Pour approximately 100 ml of oil into a plate.
2. Cut a potato circle 1 centimeter thick and make a hole in the middle for the wick.
3. Grease both the potato circle and the wick with oil.
4. Pull the wick through the potato so that approximately half a centimeter is pierced out from the top.
5. Put the potato in a plate with oil and light the wick.

Approximately 100 ml. of oil and 3-5 cm of wick will burn for up to 6 hours.

Put a tag in your top or side pocket with your name and contacts if you lose your backpack. If possible, bring photos of family or friends with you — this will help you find them if the group splits.

After packing, try to lift your backpack and walk with it. If it is too heavy, optimize its contents: it is crucial to bring it to the shelter without problems.

Put a label with the child’s name, year of birth, home address, planned destination, and information about the parents – names and contacts in the backpack and pocket of the child’s clothes. Explain to your child when and how to use this note.

Discuss all possible scenarios with relatives and friends: if the whole family is at home together and if one of the family members is absent.

An emergency can happen when you are in different places. Therefore, agree in advance on the meeting place, routes, and general action plan. In addition, decide on how you will communicate if the connection is lost (prepare walkie-talkies, arrange a meeting point or a place to leave a note with information).

Make a list of important numbers for each family member: write them down or print them out. Then, arrange for each family member to carry it with them.