Many establishments, such as shops, pharmacies, and banks, may be closed in an emergency. Therefore make sure you have a supply of food, water, medicine, cash, and the things you need at home. For tips on this, see the sections “How to prepare a water supply,” “What food to stock up on for home and a survival kit,” “How to prepare a first aid kit.”

The supply of electricity, water, gas, heat, telephone, mobile, internet, ATMs and bank terminals, shops, and pharmacies may be entirely or partially blocked in the event of military actions.

How to prepare your own home

Make sure you have:

If you live in a private house, equip the simplest shelter in your basement.

Offer older neighbors or people who cannot move on their own to help prepare a home and a survival kit and take them to the shelter if necessary.

What to do in case of flooding?

Due to the hostilities in Ukraine, there is a threat of dams, reservoirs, and locks being breached or deliberately destroyed by Russian troops. In the event of an emergency – flooding – it is important for the population to prepare in time. 

The most dangerous places in cities and villages are

• river basins
• tributaries of rivers

First of all, it is necessary to follow the instructions and recommendations of local authorities and rescuers.

Flooding as an emergency situation

In the event of sudden flooding or the destruction of hydraulic structures, rescue services and local authorities will notify the public with sirens or loudspeakers. 

 If you hear such a warning or see water approaching, follow these rules when you are in the house:

While in the car:

• never risk driving through a flooded road
• If it’s impossible to drive any further, quickly get out of the car, find a safer place on an elevated area and call for help

If you get into the water

• take off heavy clothes and shoes
• check for floating or elevated objects nearby that you can grab onto and use until help arrives
• don’t swim near electric poles: the wires may be energized, stay away from them as far as possible
• don’t overcrowd rescue boats or rafts

If you see a person who has fallen into the water, act carefully:

when rescuing, don’t enter water that is higher than the knee, because a strong current can knock you down and carry you away

find objects that can help: a rope, a stick, a boat

If possible, pull the person to the shore 

• If the person is conscious, turn him or her over onto his or her back and fix the cervical spine so that he or she can breathe freely. Cover the person to keep them warm. Call the rescuers.
• If the person loses consciousness, call rescuers and start cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

If you have been informed of the flooding in advance and have time to prepare, listen carefully to the emergency information and keep your radio or TV on. Warn your neighbors and find out from the local authorities where to gather for evacuation. Prepare an emergency suitcase, turn off the electricity and turn off the gas. If possible, move things from the ground floor to higher floors and move cattle to a safe place. Put fuels, oil and hazardous substances in a safe place on higher ground so that they don’t contaminate the environment.

Seasonal flooding: how to prepare?

In the fall, winter, and spring, some regions of Ukraine suffer from seasonal flooding. If you live in a risk area or have been warned about flooding in advance and are unable to move to a safe place for a while, you should

1. collect enough water for yourself and your cattle: it is strictly forbidden to drink water from flooded wells
2. Prepare sandbags to block the entrance to the premises and exterior walls up to a height of 1 meter
3. Keep valuables on the upper floor

What to do after a flood

After the water has drained and rescuers allowed to return home, check the following and follow the rules before entering and staying inside:

Ask local authorities for contacts of organizations that help those affected.

Rules of behavior around water

Water bodies in some regions of Ukraine have become dangerous because of mines. They can be carried by the current for several hundred kilometers. However, you should be careful around water not only because of explosive devices. According to rescuers, in recent years, about 1,500 people have died in the water during the season. Most often, such cases occur in water bodies that are not equipped for swimming. 

To ensure that your vacation ends without such accidents, you should follow the rules of behavior around water.

1. Choose places that are specially equipped for water activities. Local authorities check them in advance.
2. Avoid going into the water at night.
3. Pay attention to the weather. The best is non-windy with a water temperature of at least +18°C. 
4. Do not go into the water after you have eaten. Swimming is allowed 1.5 – 2 hours after a meal.
5. Enter the water slowly to allow your body to adapt to the temperature change.
6. Do not stay in the water longer than 15 minutes.
7. Avoid steep and bushy shores.
8. Before diving, make sure that the depth is deep enough and the bottom is flat.
9. Do not swim alone. It is best to have someone with you to help you if needed.
10. Use air mattresses carefully, as the wind and current can carry them far from the shore.

If you are caught in the current:

• do not panic;
• swim with the current, gradually and smoothly turning to the shore;
• if you are tired of swimming, roll over on your back: this way you can rest and regain your strength.

It is strictly forbidden while swimming:

• swim beyond buoys, warning signs;
• jump into the water from boats, motorboats, structures that are not designed for this purpose;
• dive from bridges, dams, trees, high banks;
• use boards, logs, car tire tubes – anything that is not intended for water activities;
• swim up to whirlpools or watercraft (motorized vessels, sailboats, rowing boats, etc.)
• drink alcoholic beverages.

If you are on vacation with children, do not forget to

In addition, when parents teach their child to swim, he or she may swallow water. In this case, you should immediately take the child out of the water and allow him or her to cough. 

When a person quickly runs into the water or swims for a long time, a cramp can occur. It also occurs due to a sudden temperature change or after physical activity.

If you have a cramp in the water

1. Your thigh cramps – bend your leg at the knee and strongly pull back on the ankle joint with your hand.
2. Calf muscle cramp – grasp your toes with your hand, pull them strongly toward yourself and hold them despite the pain. 
3. A prick with any sharp object helps to regain muscle elasticity, so you can attach an English pin to your swimsuit in advance. 
4. Vigorous massage of tense muscles helps. As a rule, cramps disappear in 3-5 minutes without any outside influence. So, you should not panic and stay afloat during this time.

During water recreation, it is not always possible to immediately recognize that a person is drowning. After all, in this condition, a person lacks air and cannot scream or call for help, even with his or her hand. Instinctively, they stretch their arms out to the side as if to press the surface of the water.

The main signs that a person is drowning

• the head is low in the water or occasionally pops up from under the water;
• the person is trying to catch a breath of air, so the mouth is open and the head is tilted back; 
• the gaze is unfocused, the eyes are glassy or closed;
• hair is chaotically falling on the forehead and eyes;
• the person is suffocating or breathing very actively;
• the person tries to swim but remains in place;
• the person tries to roll over onto their back.

If you see that a person in the water needs help

Once a person is on the shore, you need to give him or her first aid.

1. Ask to call an ambulance (103).
2. If the person is unconscious, ensure the airways are clear: clean the person’s mouth of sand and seaweed.
3. If the person is not breathing, tilt his or her head back and start artificial respiration.
4. If there is no heartbeat, perform indirect heart massage: 30 chest compressions for 2 breaths.
5. When the person regains consciousness, immobilize them until the ambulance arrives and cover them with a blanket.

How to prepare a water supply

Calculate the stock for home use according to the number of members of your family. One adult needs per day:

Ensure that you have a water supply for yourself and your family for at least 72 hours.

If you are not sure about the quality of drinking water, we recommend having supplies for additional cleaning — filter jug ​​for mechanical water purification or tablets for quick disinfection of water.

How to prepare a vehicle

If you have a car, check in advance:

What products to stock up for home and a survival kit

Products for a survival kit:

How to prepare a stockpile and store food for a long time

Power outages, nuclear threats, occupation – all of these things encourage people to create a strategic stockpile of food at home in case of an emergency. To ensure that the supplies do not spoil for a long time, you should take care of their proper storage.

The following products have a long shelf life:

• cereals (more than 3 months);
• beans (up to a year);
• pasta (about a year);
• nuts, seeds, crackers (2-3 months);
• canned food (from 1 year).

Rules for storing cereals

1. After purchasing the product, pour the cereal into a clean, dry container.
2. It should be stored in a container that can be tightly closed (e.g. a glass or plastic container).
3. Place the container in a dry, dark place (e.g., a cupboard).

Pasta can be stored in its original packaging or in the same way as cereals.

For storing beans, the following is important

• dry environment, as humidity can cause fungal growth;
• convenient packaging: box, bag, container, sack.

A dry, cold, dark place is best for nuts and seeds. You can put them in a sack or container made of thick plastic. It is important that the nuts are fresh, then the storage time will be longer, and the seeds should be bought in non-transparent packaging.

Most fruits and vegetables are best stored in the refrigerator, but potatoes, carrots, beets, apples, and onions can be stored in a dark, dry place for a long time. The most important thing is to ensure that the room is free of moisture, as fungus will start to grow on the fruits and vegetables.

Watch more about food storage in the video of the Dovidka.info project

You can store food for a long time not only in its raw form. For example, fruits, vegetables, fish, and meat can be canned. To prevent canned food from bloating, make sure that

For canned meat and fish, it is important to

1. Choose glass jars with glass lids with a rubber rim. They close more tightly than jars with iron lids.
2. Thoroughly clean the fish from scales and entrails.
3. It is best stored in a dark, dry place at a temperature of up to +12°C.

For canned fruits and vegetables you need

1. Choose a dark, dry place to store the cans.
2. The best storage temperature is up to +20°C.

You shouldn’t

• store the canned food under the influence of sunlight;
• change its temperature abruptly.

Important! If you have the slightest suspicion that the canned food is of poor quality, do not eat it. Never eat food from blown cans.

Meat can be stored raw-dried at room temperature for a month, and in the refrigerator for up to six months. For example, you can prepare a chicken filet for long-term storage using the following recipe:

1. Marinate in spices and salt for 12 hours. 
2. After marinating, roll the filet in a mixture of spices to your taste.
3. Wrap in a sterile cloth.
4. Hang in a well-ventilated place (in summer, you can hang it on the sunny side of the balcony, and in other seasons it is better to place it under a cooker hood or above a radiator).
5. The ready product can be eaten after 3 days. If you want to store it at room temperature, you should dry the chicken for a few more days.

Watch more recipes for raw-dried foods in the video of the Dovidka.info project:

How to prepare a first aid kit

Prepare two first aid kits – one for emergencies (for example, in case of injury), the other for your household needs (pain relief, elimination of symptoms of poisoning, elimination of allergic reactions, etc.).

Emergency first aid kit:

First aid kit for household needs:

What to cook when there is no electricity

In case of power outages and other emergency situations, we advise you to stock up on canned goods and dry sublimated food in advance. Nowadays, in stores, there is a large selection of such dishes: soups, porridges, purees. To use them, it is enough to fill them with cold water.

Some cereals do not need to be boiled, it will be enough to only pour water and leave them for a while. So we advise you to have them in stock.

Porridge, for the preparation of which boiled water is needed 

• Barley porridge.  Pour boiled water and leave for 2-3 hours.
• Millet porridge.  Pour boiled water and wait 1 hour for infusion.
• Wheat porridge. Pour boiled water and wrap the bowl in a blanket to keep the warmth. Wait 30-50 minutes for infusion. 
• Bulgur. You can cook small or medium sized bulgur without boiling. Small bulgur is infused in boiling water in 20 minutes, medium – 40 minutes.

Porridge, for the preparation of which cold water (kefir or milk) is enough

• Buckwheat porridge

Brown buckwheat is sold in stores already prepared. It is marked on the package that it is fried and dried. If there is no gas or electricity, cereals can be pre-soaked in room temperature water, milk or kefir. It should be infused for 5 to 10 hours. Therefore, it is better to soak it overnight.

• Pearl porridge 

This cereal can be poured with both boiling and plain water. But it should be infused in cold water for 10 to 24 hours. Therefore, it is better to pour it in the evening.

• Couscous 

Cereals filled with cold water are enough to leave for 20-30 minutes for preparing. If there is hot water, 5 – 10 minutes will be enough. 

• Oatmeal (or oat flakes) 

To cook in cold water, leave to infuse for 30 minutes or an hour. In boiling water – 20 minutes is enough. 

• Semolina porridge 

Pour cold water or milk over the semolina, cover and let it steep for 15-20 minutes. 

• Quinoa 

Cover with cold water and leave overnight. 

All the listed cereals can also be prepared in a thermos. One hour of boiling on the stove equals 4-5 hours of infusion in a thermos.

What candles to buy in case there is no light

Due to power outages, Ukrainians are advised to stock up on candles. We explain what types exist and how they differ. 

Beeswax candles 

The most ecological, safe and without pungent smell. Such wax practically does not burn, but only melts. When burning doesn’t leave soot.

Sometimes a part of paraffin is added to the composition of the mass in a strict percentage correlation so as not to break the natural properties of the wax. However, if the wax candle has horizontal cracks and crumbles easily, it means that it contains more than 30% of paraffin.

Such candles cost more than others due to the high cost of the raw materials. The price starts from 100 UAH for a set of thin (“church”) candles.

The burning time depends on the size, but the smallest ones from the store burn for up to an hour.

Vegetable wax candles (stearin)

Stearin is produced from various oils, for example, palm oil. Stearin candles are easy to recognize: they are matte, and after burning, a transparent layer with a pattern similar to snowflakes is formed. 

• Palm wax candles. Solid and non-greasy material. Burns almost without smell. However, it is fragile – it is easy to break. 
• Soy wax candles. Matte white in color, when heated, the material becomes liquid and transparent with a “milky” smell.
• Coconut wax candles. More expensive than palm and soy, they also burn longer than others (1 cm – up to 5 hours). However, they are rarely found in stores.

Such candles emit a concentrated aroma, so they are recommended for use in large spaces. 

Prices for candles made of vegetable wax: from 100 UAH for a small candle. The burning time depends on the size, but the smallest ones burn up to 45 minutes.

Paraffin 

Paraffin is a product of oil distillation. Without impurities and without additional cleaning, it has an unpleasant smell. There are candles made of high-purity paraffin, those in which aromas are added.

The more poorly cleaned paraffin is in the candle, the more soot, uneven flame and black “fouling” during burning. 

You shouldn’t overuse paraffin candles, burning them one by one. It is better to take short breaks and ventilate the room. 

Their only advantage is that they are cheap. The price of the smallest paraffin candle starts at 20 UAH. 

The burning time depends on the size, but the smallest ones burn in half an hour.

Gel candles

They are made from gel-like synthetic hydrocarbons. These candles are safer than those made of technical paraffin. But there is a nuance in gel candles – a decorative filler. When burning, fabric and plastic can give out an unpleasant smell, in addition, they ignite easily and the fire can become uncontrollable. Therefore, it is better to buy gel candles with stones that will not ignite.

The burning time is an average of 4 hours (but it depends on the size). The average price is 250 hryvnias. 

How to make a candle with your own hands

Long-burning candle

From one 30 centimeters long wax candle, you can make 6 long-burning candles, each of which will burn for 10-12 hours. 

What is needed:

• a small jar, a glass or a cup with thick glass 
• paraffin candle 
• wax candle 
• pinch of salt 
• oil (refined without odor)
• knife 
• matches or a lighter

How to make:

1. Divide the wax candle into several parts approximately 5 centimeters each. 
2. Drop a little melted paraffin on the bottom of the container and, until it hardens, fix a piece of candle on it. 
3. Pour oil into the container, add a pinch of salt, which will remove moisture from the oil.
4. A long-burning candle is ready.

Potato candle

What you will need: 

• small plate (made of glass or clay)
• potato 
• improvised wick – a rope made of natural fabric, gauze, bandage or lace 
• oil (refined without odor)

How to make:

1. Pour approximately 100 ml of oil into a plate. 
2. Cut a potato circle 1 centimeter thick and make a hole in the middle for the wick.
3. Grease both the potato circle and the wick with oil. 
4. Pull the wick through the potato so that approximately half a centimeter is pierced out from the top. 
5. Put the potato in a plate with oil and light the wick.

Approximately 100 ml. of oil and 3-5 cm of wick will burn for up to 6 hours.

What to put in a survival kit

Put in the survival kit:

Put a tag in your top or side pocket with your name and contacts if you lose your backpack. If possible, bring photos of family or friends with you — this will help you find them if the group splits.

After packing, try to lift your backpack and walk with it. If it is too heavy, optimize its contents: it is crucial to bring it to the shelter without problems.

Put a label with the child’s name, year of birth, home address, planned destination, and information about the parents – names and contacts in the backpack and pocket of the child’s clothes. Explain to your child when and how to use this note.

How to agree with relatives and friends on an action plan

Discuss all possible scenarios with relatives and friends: if the whole family is at home together and if one of the family members is absent.

An emergency can happen when you are in different places. Therefore, agree in advance on the meeting place, routes, and general action plan. In addition, decide on how you will communicate if the connection is lost (prepare walkie-talkies, arrange a meeting point or a place to leave a note with information).

Make a list of important numbers for each family member: write them down or print them out. Then, arrange for each family member to carry it with them.

How parents can take care of their child’s future in case of death

As of April 1, 2023, more than 8,500 children in Ukraine were left without parental care due to Russian aggression. This information comes from the National Social Service of Ukraine. Of these, more than 1,500 children have become orphans. These figures are approximate, as the exact number cannot be determined due to the hostilities and partial occupation of the country. 

In Ukraine, parents have the opportunity to take care of their child’s future. They can provide financial support by getting insurance or opening a special bank account.

Who will take care of the child in the event of the parents’ death? 

The law currently sets out the following rules:

Also, a person who wants to take care of a child must meet the following criteria:

1. The person has never been deprived of parental rights.
2. The person has full legal capacity and is able to raise the child.
3. The person has no criminal record.
4. Their behavior and interests do not contradict the interests of the child.
5. The person does not live with people who have health, behavioral or lifestyle disorders.
6. The person has a permanent place of residence

To get custody of a child, you need to

During the period of martial law, relatives and godparents need to submit a simplified package of documents to the guardianship and custody authority at the place of their residence or the child’s residence:

• application;
• a copy of your passport;
• documents confirming family ties with the child;
• a certificate from a narcologist and psychiatrist;
• a certificate on the presence or absence of a criminal record.

In addition to the right to guardianship, parents can take care of the property that their child will receive in advance. To do this, it is necessary to draw up a will. The following steps are required:

• go to a notary with a passport and identification code;
• draw up a will and designate heirs;
• the notary will register the document in the inheritance register;
• the person will keep one copy and the notary will keep the other;
• a person can change a will or draw up a new one at any time.

This way, parents will be able to pass their property to their child. After all, in a will, a person can give the right for inheritance to any person. The content of the will is formed by the person independently. In addition, there are several categories of people who cannot be completely disinherited. They are entitled to a mandatory part:

• minor children
• underage children;
• disabled children;
• disabled widows (widowers);
• disabled parents.

In any case, regardless of the text of the will, they receive half of the share that would have been due to them in case of inheritance under the law.

If there is no will, according to the law, there are 5 lines of inheritance. And each subsequent line receives the right to inherit if there are no heirs of the previous line or they have refused it. If there are several people in the same line, the heirs receive the inheritance in equal parts.

Inheritance lines:

1. Children, other spouse, parents.
2. Siblings, grandparents.
3. Uncle and aunt.
4. Cohabitants who lived with the deceased for at least 5 years.
5. Other relatives up to the sixth degree of kinship, dependents who were not family members.

How to draw up a will at the war front or in evacuation?

For military personnel:

For IDPs abroad:

• you need to contact the consulates or embassies of Ukraine.

Watch the video by the Dovidka.info project to learn more about adoption during the war:

To take a child into a family during the war, use the chatbot “A Child is Not Alone” https://t.me/dytyna_ne_sama_bot The bot was created with the participation of UNICEF, the Office of the President of Ukraine and the Ministry of Social Policy. Write to the chatbot if: 

• you want to temporarily shelter a child in a family;
• you see an unattended child;
• your child is lost.

How to raise a child without a father, explains Svitlana Arefnia, PhD in Psychology. You can watch the video at the link

The material was created with the help of Gennadiy Dubov, PhD in Law

How to take care of pets

Please note that it is forbidden to take animals to shelter. If possible, arrange in advance with friends or family members who live in a safe place to hand over the animal.