The French government is getting ready to dispatch a novel survival manual to households throughout the nation, packed with advice on how to react in times of potential crisis.
The 20-page manual details procedures for handling situations ranging from armed conflicts and natural catastrophes to industrial mishaps or nuclear incidents. This handbook, which is said to contain 63 actionable measures, aims to instruct folks on how to shield themselves and their neighbors, alongside providing info on aiding local defence initiatives by joining reserve outfits or firefighting collectives.
Despite swirling talks, the French authorities have declared that the creation of this guide isn't directly tied to the Ukrainian conflict, even with President Emmanuel Macron's alerts regarding the intensifying "Russian threat" and hints at a shrinking US military footprint in Europe.
Pending a nod from Prime Minister Francois Bayrou, the goal is to disperse the booklets to homes afore summertime, as hinted by stories from the French press.
A pivotal tip in the guideline is the assembly of an emergency kit geared for survival scenarios. Essentials like a cache of sustenance, aqua, cells, and medical gear – think paracetamol, bandages, and saline solution – are cited as crucial stockpile elements.
In the face of potential nuclear incidents, the guidance is to lock up and stay indoors. A representative from the Prime Minister's office explained that the manual aims to bolster "the resilience of populations in the face of all types of crisis, whether natural, technological, cyber, or security-related".
Other European nations have rolled out similar schemes recently.
Toward the end of 2023, Sweden sent out five million pamphlets to homes with the title "If Crisis or War Comes", urging residents to gear up for possible armed conflict.
The leaflet highlighted a rise in military threats and recommended hoarding food and water, having cash available, and cultivating fruits and vegetables.
Finland has also set up a government website to aid its people in preparing for various emergency scenarios.
Following Russia's attack on Ukraine, both Sweden and Finland have abandoned their long-standing military neutrality to join NATO.
The unveiling of the manual in France has elicited a range of responses. Some are skeptical about the timing of its release, with Le Figaro hinting that it "could easily be interpreted as a reaction to the unstable international situation."
Others have poked fun at some of the advice given. Comedian Matthieu Noel, while on France Inter radio, made light of the suggestion to "shut doors" during a nuclear event, quipping that "Putin can drop a nuclear bomb on Paris, Ebola can hit the Cantal region, we'll be ready."
He said: "While you're at it, how about, in case of a tsunami, no snorkelling?".
According to the French government, the guide is a component of a national resilience plan devised in 2022 following the Covid-19 pandemic.
Authorities argue the objective is to prepare the population for various crises and enhance public communication during emergencies.
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