What to do in the first minutes
- Go inside and as low as possible A cellar or underground car park. If you can't get there in time, an inner room without windows.
- Do not use the lift You could get stuck in it during a power cut. Use the stairs.
- Outside? Lie down and protect your head Into a ditch, behind a wall, away from glass and facades.
- Stay in the shelter until the authorities call off the danger The end of the danger is announced by radio and TV, not by the siren.
Where to shelter in a flat
The two-wall rule
There should be at least two walls between you and the street. The first stops debris, the second protects you from whatever gets through. In a flat this is usually the hallway or a bathroom in the middle.
Safe placeWindow
Good places
- Inner hallway
- Bathroom without a window
- Staircase inside the building
- Cellar
Bad places
- By windows and balconies
- Room with glass
- Top floor
- Lift
Prepare in advance
Shoes, torch and phone by the bedAt night you won't get far barefoot in the dark over broken glass.
Lower the blinds, close the curtainsThey catch some of the glass from broken windows.
Agree on a plan with your family in advanceWhere you will meet and how you will reach each other if phones stop working.
Charged power bank and battery radioWhen power and the mobile network are down, radio still works.
Do not photograph or share strike sitesPhotos on social media can help an attacker aim more precisely.
Do not touch unknown objectsLeave debris and unexploded ammunition alone and call 158 or 112.
Find out what to keep at home and in your bag on the Emergency bag page.
Based on recommendations of the Czech Fire Rescue Service, the Polish government's guidance for air attacks and experience from Ukraine. In a real emergency, always follow the instructions of the emergency services. Updated 4 October 2026.