Two of the newest members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) recently updated their emergency survival manuals, providing citizens with instructions on what to do in the case of a war or another major crisis. The updated survival manuals come amid rapidly-escalating tension in Europe regarding the war between Ukraine and Russia.
According to CNN, Sweden and Finland both joined NATO over the past two years following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Both NATO members have been distributing updated survival manuals to their citizens in recent days.
CNN reported that the survival manuals, which are being distributed to millions of households across Sweden and Finland, explain how residents can prepare for extreme weather events, mass communication or power outages, and potential wars.
The updated emergency guidance provides citizens of Sweden and Finland with instructions on how to grow food from home and stockpile bottled water and other necessities, how to preserve medications, baby food, and diapers, how to evacuate in the event of a crisis, how to talk to children about war and other crises, how to help vulnerable members in the community, how to stop bleeding, how to handle anxiety, and how to care for pets during emergencies.
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According to the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB), Sweden’s government started distributing the “Om krisen eller kriget kommer (If crisis or war comes)” brochure to roughly five million households on November 18. CNN reported that the updated brochure marks the fifth version of the survival manual that was first circulated during World War II. In a statement obtained by CNN, the MSB said the newest version places a “greater emphasis on preparing for war.”
“The state of the world has worsened drastically in recent years. War is being waged in our vicinity. Extreme weather events are becoming increasingly common. Terror threats, cyberattacks, and disinformation campaigns are being used to undermine and influence us,” the MSB said on its website. “To resist these threats, we must stand united and take responsibility for our country.”
Finland’s Ministry of the Interior also released a copy of the country’s updated emergency instructions last week. Eriikka Koistinen, director of communications for Finland’s Ministry of the Interior, said, “The idea of preparing for crises may cause anxiety and fear. However, thinking about the risks and threats also strengthens the resources of the individual and the community.”
According to CNN, Noway and Denmark previously released updated crisis instructions to their citizens earlier this year.
