The French Government said it planned to distribute a survival manual to every household.
Inspired by the Swedish model, the French guide would outline essential actions to take in the event of a major crisis. Its goal was to prepare the population for potential threats such as international conflicts, natural disasters and health emergencies.
“The purpose of this document is to ensure the resilience of populations in the face of all types of crisis, whether natural, technological, cyber or security-related,” a French government official told French media on March 20.
The manual has been divided into three main sections.
The first section focused on self-protection, emphasising solidarity and outlining key steps to ensure the safety of those in close proximity.
It advised households to prepare a survival kit containing at least six litres of water, canned food, a torch with batteries and a first-aid kit equipped with paracetamol, compresses and saline solution.
The emergency response part provided specific guidance on how to react in different crisis situations. It included emergency contact numbers and described essential actions such as sealing doors during a nuclear accident.
Additionally, it listed the radio frequencies required to monitor for official instructions.
Finally, the third part was designed to raise awareness of “civic commitment”. It explained how to join a military reserve, whether communal or numerical, to help out in the event of a major crisis.
This handbook aligned with the French Government’s communications in recent weeks.
Earlier in March during a televised speech, French President Emmanuel Macron warned of “Russian threats”.
Since then, the government has reiterated the need to reinforce France’s defence capabilities.
The manual was still being finalised, according to French authorities.
Overall, the document was also part of the national resilience strategy developed in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Based on three objectives, the resilience strategy aimed to prepare the State for crises and develop the means to deal with them.
France is not the only European Union country to have been preparing for a crisis. Belgium and Germany have also put in place several initiatives aimed at boosting their healthcare systems in case of a war emergency.
German Bavarian State health minister Judith Gerlach has called for war-ready hospitals amid rising military threats from Russia and NATO uncertainty. https://t.co/aQNuor1odx
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) March 17, 2025
