Poland issues safety guidelines for long-term blackouts

The Polish government has issued safety guidelines to help citizens prepare for long-term power outages or blackouts caused by natural disasters or intentional actions. These outages can last several days and may impact heating, water, telecommunications, and digital payment systems.

To conserve heat during autumn or winter outages, the government recommends that family members gather in a single room to minimize heat loss. The Ministry of the Interior and Administration notes that even gas heating systems may fail without electricity, as power is often required for ignition, controllers, and circulation pumps.

Additionally, citizens are advised to maintain at least a three-day supply of essential medications, particularly for chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, asthma, epilepsy, and heart disease. The guidelines emphasize securing the continuity of treatment and having basic first aid supplies ready in case pharmacies or medical services become temporarily inaccessible.