Read and locate
Identify the authority, the risk, the area concerned and the time of the message.
Useful preparation · Verified sources
Anticipate the risks.
Anticipate the risks.
Protect the essentials.
Practical guides for preparing your home, comparing really useful equipment and adopting the right reflexes in the face of cuts, fires, evacuations and risks CBRN — chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear, also called NRBC. The objective: to move forward methodically, without unnecessary fear, with simple solutions that the whole family can understand.
Official sources
Proportionate advice
Reviewed on
15 · 18 · 112Emergency numbers
72 hoursRecommended autonomy
4 familiesChemical · Biological · Radiological · Nuclear
Editorial transparencyMethod, sources and published limits
Immediate response
1
2
3
What to do in the event of an alert or major danger?
The course of action always depends on the official message. Read the alert completely, do not approach the dangerous area and apply the instructions received — shelter, evacuation or other measure — until the end of the alert.
Get to safety
Follow the sheltering or evacuation instructions precisely, without improvising.
Stay informed
Consult FR-Alert, the prefecture, town hall, radio or emergency services depending on the situation.
References checked with the official presentation of FR-Alert. In case of immediate danger: 15, 18 or 112.
Free tool · Local data
Compile my 72-hour kit in less than a minute
Size the water reserve, add the needs specific to your household and check what is already ready. Your choices remain only in this browser.
0/8
Essential items ready
Basic water reserve
6 L
For 1 person for 72 hours, before adaptation to heat and special needs.
- BaseWater, uncooked food, radio, lamp, energy, care, clothing, documents and keys.
- ChildAdapted power supply, changes, comfort, treatments and useful contact details.
- HealthUsual treatments, prescription, necessary equipment and medical contact.
- AccessibilityTechnical assistance, batteries, identified companion and practicable route.
- AnimalWater, food, leash or crate, treatment and identification.
3. Check the essentials
Preparation dashboard
References that save time
Some simple data to size a first preparation, check the focus and know where to start.
Basic autonomy
The first level for water, information, light, care and food.
Water per person
Emergency kit reference, to be adjusted according to the heat, health and needs of the home.
Emergencies
SAMU, firefighters and European number, to be used from a safe zone.
Verification
Check dates, batteries, documents, notices and accessibility of equipment.
Family contacts
Numbers, appointments, treatments and routes accessible even without a network.
Universal protection
Equipment responds to a specific risk, under defined conditions and limits.
Priorities by scenario
| Scenario | Do first | To prepare |
|---|---|---|
| Network cutoff | Save battery and listen to the information | Radio, lamp, battery, paper contacts |
| Evacuation | Follow the official route without delaying departure | Papers, treatments, keys, water, telephone |
| Containment | Join a building and follow the instructions | Radio, water, medication, adhesive if requested |
| Fire | Go out or take shelter, then call 18/112 | Detectors, accessible keys, assembly point |
Water reserve for 72 hours
Indicative base of 6 liters per person, excluding special needs and extreme heat.
1person6 L
2people12 L
3people18 L
4people24 L
5people30 L
Useful numbers to keep
15SAMU
17Police / gendarmerie
18Firefighters
112European emergency
114Emergency by SMS / video
196Rescue at sea
Calendar
Making the kit available all year round
Recharge the external battery and check recorded alerts.
Control access to keys, papers, treatments and lamps.
Turn water and food, test radio and detectors.
Repeat the family plan and reassess the household's needs.
72-hour inventory
25 items to check by category
A control basis to be adapted to people, housing, the season and the territory.
Water and food
- Drinking water
- No-cook foods
- Manual can opener
- Cups and cutlery
- Specific diet
Information and energy
- Battery radio
- Main lamp
- Emergency lamp
- External battery
- Compatible cables and batteries
Health and hygiene
- Usual treatments
- Orders
- First aid kit
- Soap and paper
- Protections adapted
Documents and contacts
- Identity copies
- Contact list
- Emergency keys
- Cash money
- Insurance information
Departure and comfort
- Warm clothing
- Adapted shoes
- Survival blanket
- Resistant bags
- Need of an animal or child
Risk reference system
Recognize the family, choose the first reflex
This table does not allow the identification of an unknown agent: it is used to understand the differences between scenarios.
| Family | Situation examples | First reflex | Essential limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| C Chemical | Leak, odor, cloud, projection | Distance, shelter or evacuation according to the alert | Do not identify by approaching |
| B Organic | Epidemic, exposure, contaminated dust | Limit exposure and follow the health authority | The route of transmission changes the measures |
| R Radiological | Source, deposit or suspected contamination | Time short, distance and suitable screen | PPE does not block all radiation |
| N Nuclear | Alert around of an installation or fallout | Enter, listen, close if asked | Iodine only on official orders |
| F Fire | Smoke, flame, alarm | Evacuate or report, call 18/112 | An FFP does not protect against gases |
| M Natural risk | Flood, storm, forest fire, earthquake | Follow vigilance and local instructions | The decision depends on the place and the moment |
Self-assessment
Five levels to progress without buying everything
- 1Inform
Numbers, alerts, precise address and known contacts.
- 2Take a day
Water, light, telephone, treatments and common food.
- 3Reach 72 hours
Sized reserves, radio, hygiene and documents.
- 4Adapt to the home
Children, disability, animals, season, vehicle and territory.
- 5Test and maintain
Exercise, rotation, control of dates and annual improvement.
Site coverage
The territories and brands in our directory
These counters are automatically generated from site files, verified on 2026-08-15.
Seasonal adaptation
What changes throughout the year
Cold and cuts
- Multi-layer clothing
- Additional covers
- Long-lasting lighting
- Prevention of carbon monoxide
Water and maintenance
- Rotation of reserves
- Infiltration control
- Updating documents
- Family plan test
Heat and fires
- Additional water
- Sun protection
- Forest fire vigilance
- Alternative routes
Rain and storms
- Waterproofness of bags
- Charging batteries
- Cleaning of evacuations
- Status of lamps and radios
Storage
Distribute the equipment according to its use
| Location | Priority content | Control | Avoid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Near the exit | Bag, keys, copies, lamp, shoes | Permanent access | Block the passage |
| Tempered cupboard | Water, food, radio, hygiene | Dates and rotation | Heat and direct sun |
| Zone santé | Treatments, prescriptions, first aid | Needs of each person | Children's access |
| Vehicle | Vest, lamp, water depending on the season, blanket | Temperature and condition | Heat-sensitive medicines |
| Digital copy | Contacts, insurance, useful references | Secure offline access | A single unsaved device |
Main sections
Compare by situation, not by product
Each section is based on a concrete situation experienced by an individual, a family or a professional: understanding the risk, knowing what to do first, prioritizing purchases, comparing brands and avoiding bad reflexes. The explanations also remind us of the limits of the equipment and the essential place of official instructions.
72-hour survivalism
Water, food, radio, light, care, documents, progressive budget.
Troubles civil
Avoidance, home, information, fire, insurance, short-term autonomy.
Major crisis
Prepare the family, the documents, the kit and a possible departure in the event of a major crisis.
Water, energy, communication
Reserves, filtration, lamps, batteries, radio, contacts and family continuity.
Home security
Detectors, fire extinguishers, documents, lighting, insurance and evacuation.
Fires and smoke
Evacuation, sheltering, DAAF, smoke, forest fires and fire kit.
PPE / CBRN criteria
Respiratory, gloves, glasses, hygiene, limits and compatibility.
Watch and rescue
External flows, numbers useful, prefectures, public organizations and alerts.
Daily preparation
Start simply, then improve your preparation
It is not necessary to buy everything at once or transform your home. Serious preparation starts with a few easy-to-implement decisions, then improves over time based on household, territory and budget.
Take stock of what you already have
Most homes already have some of the necessities: bottles of water, simple foods, a lamp, usual medications, chargers, warm clothing and copies of documents. Gathering them mentally or on a short list allows you to identify the real gaps without giving in to an impulsive purchase.
Take advantage of this first inventory to check the dates, the condition of the batteries and the accessibility of the equipment. A lamp stored in a dark cellar or a radio without batteries will not be of much help when a power outage occurs. Tidying up is therefore an integral part of preparation.
Plan for the specific needs of the household
A generic kit does not take into account daily treatment, an infant, an elderly person, a disability or an animal. Add any prescriptions, emergency glasses, hygiene products, specific food and medical contact information your household may need.
Also explain the plan in simple words. Everyone must know the storage location, the assembly point and the person to contact. A few minutes of discussion avoids a lot of hesitation and allows children to understand the process without worrying them.
Choose understandable and verifiable material
A commercial promise never replaces a standard, instructions or clearly indicated compatibility. Before purchasing a mask, gloves, filter or device, check the risk it addresses, the conditions of use, the necessary consumables and the shelf life.
Then do a test in a normal situation. Turn up the light, tune the radio, wear the mask for a few minutes and learn to remove gloves without touching their outer side. Known and correctly used equipment is always more useful than a sophisticated product discovered in a hurry.
Keep official information at hand
In unusual situations, rumors circulate quickly and can cause people to go out, buy or move at the wrong time. Note the channels of the prefecture, town hall, weather services and Civil Security. Always check the date, location and origin of a message before sharing it.
In case of immediate danger, call emergency services and soberly describe what you see. This site helps to prepare and understand; it does not replace a local alert, a healthcare professional, or specialized teams. The instructions received on site remain priority.
Home · Autonomy
Create a really useful 72-hour kit
Water, information, lighting, care, documents and simple food: a base adapted to the people in the household, easy to carry, find and check before thinking about accessories.
Consult the guide
Protection · Comparison
Choose PPE according to the real risk
Compare standards, materials, fit, compatibility between equipment and limits of use before looking at the price or commercial arguments.
Compare protection
Prevention · Hygiene
Reduce daily biological risks
Organize cleaning, gloves, masks and waste according to the situation, without confusing preventive hygiene, appropriate protection and medical care.
Understand biological risks
Autonomy · Information
Keep water, energy and contacts within reach
A simple reserve, a radio, accessible batteries and contact details make it possible to better manage a power outage without over-equipping the home.
Prepare your autonomy
Habitat · Forest fires
Prepare your home before the risk period
Maintain the surrounding area, check access, keep a kit ready and follow local instructions: concrete actions to anticipate without dramatizing.
Preventing forest fires
Instructions · Alert
Receive, check and transmit the right information
Keeping simple ways to follow official instructions helps you decide without spreading rumors.
Consult reliable sources
Prevention · Hygiene
Gestures and supplies that have a real role
Clear preparation prioritizes hygiene, organization and verified information.
Understanding prevention
Autonomy · Energy
Keep light and communication available
Preparing simple and controlled solutions limits the effects of a temporary outage.
Prepare the energy
Organization · Home
Find the essentials without wasting time
Contact details, essential papers and keys deserve a precise and accessible place.
Structuring your kit
Comparison method
The criteria to compare before buying
The price alone is not enough. The guide highlights standards, actual use, lifespan, consumables, after-sales service, availability, reviews, technical sheets and ease of use.
- Family use, home, car, business or ERP
- Standards, compatibility, limits and conditions of use
- Availability in France, deadlines, returns and customer service
- Minimum budget, comfort budget, professional budget
Sign directory
Where to compare according to need
The brands are grouped by use in order to help everyone check standards, availability, return conditions and quality of service before any purchase.
DIY and home
Detectors, fire extinguishers, lighting, storage, security of openings, tools and domestic energy.
Leroy Merlin · Castorama · Brico Dépôt · ManoMano · Mr.BricolageOutdoor and autonomy
First aid kits, bags, survival blankets, lamps, water bottles, filters, clothing and bivouac.
Decathlon · At Vieux Campeur · Snowleader · Hardloop · TrekkinnPPE and professionals
Gloves, glasses, protective clothing, signage, hygiene, first aid kits and volume purchases.
Seton · Manutan · Raja · Securimed · Lyreco · RS
Home & DIY
Leroy Merlin
leroymerlin.fr
Home & DIY
Castorama
castorama.fr
Outdoor & autonomy
Decathlon
decathlon.fr
Specialized outdoor
Au Vieux Campeur
auvieuxcampeur.fr
Security & PPE
Seton
seton.fr
Business & PPE
Manutan
manutan.fr
First aid
Securimed
securimed.fr
Professional protection
France Sécurité
france-securite.fr
Specialized network sites
Continue with more targeted resources
To explore a specific need in more detail, consult these additional sites devoted to biological risks and the choice of protective equipment in France.
Biological risks
Biohazard Protection
Prevention, decontamination, barrier equipment and actions adapted to biological exposure.
Explore the site biohazard-protection.worldwebcertified.com Equipment & PPE Protection Equipment FranceRespiratory, skin and eye protection: selection criteria and benchmarks adapted to the French market.
Explore the site equipment-protection-france.worldwebcertified.com
Essential answers
Frequently asked questions about CBRN risks and the 72 hour kit
Short answers to check an essential point, with links to detailed guides when the situation requires it.
What does CBRN or NRBC mean?
CBRN designates chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear risks. In French, the acronym NRBC presents the same families in a different order: nuclear, radiological, biological and chemical.
What should I do when I receive a FR-Alert alert?
Read the entire message, check the area concerned and apply the indicated instructions: shelter, evacuation or other safety measure. Do not approach danger and follow updates from the issuing authority.
What should you put in a 72-hour emergency kit?
The basics include water, non-cooking food, a battery-powered radio, a lamp, usual treatments, a first aid kit, warm clothes, copies of documents, keys and a phone charger.
How much water should you need for 72 hours?
Civil Security indicates 6 liters of drinking water per person in bottles for the emergency kit. This basis must be adapted to the heat, age, state of health and particular needs of the household.
Does an FFP2 or FFP3 mask protect against chemical gases?
No. An FFP mask filters particles but does not protect against gases, chemical vapors, carbon monoxide or an atmosphere poor in oxygen. An unknown substance requires distancing and emergency services instructions.
Should you take iodine in the event of a nuclear alert?
Only on instructions from the authorities. Stable iodine only protects the thyroid against certain releases of radioactive iodine; it does not protect against other radioactive substances or external irradiation.
Preparation in France
Understand the risks in your territory
Risks and instructions vary depending on the territory. The guide helps households, communities, businesses and ERPs find official sources and prepare a proportionate response.