Air attack: missiles, drones, bombs: what to do, step by step
Air-raid alarm, explosions. Below: what to do right away, what next, when to call 112 and what to avoid. The same instructions are in the free SurvivalZone app and work without internet.
First, right now
- Go underground: basement, shelter, underground car park or metro station. It is the safest place during explosions.
- No basement? Go to a room without windows in the middle of the building (corridor, bathroom). Two-wall rule: keep at least two walls between you and the street.
- Outside and cannot reach a building? Lie down in a dip in the ground, face down, hands over your head.
Then
- Stay sheltered until the all clear (a steady siren for 3 minutes, or an official alert).
- Take your phone, a torch, water, medicines and your grab bag if it is at hand.
- WARNING: if the alert says chemical attack, or you notice a strange smell, do NOT go to the basement. Go to an upper floor and seal the room. War gases are heavier than air and collect low down.
When to call 112
Someone is injured, the building is damaged, someone is trapped under rubble, or you see unexploded ordnance.
What not to do
- Don't stand by windows or film from the balcony. Flying glass causes most injuries.
- Don't use the lift.
- Don't touch missile or drone debris or unexploded shells. Report them on 112.
See also
Keep it on your phone
SurvivalZone is a free app for every emergency, with no account and no app store. It works without internet and shows the nearest shelters and help points, local radio, a 72-hour plan and a mountain trip planner.
Other scenarios
- ⚡ Power cut
- 🥶 Cold, no heating
- 🚱 No water or unsafe tap water
- 🌊 Flood, water coming in
- 🎒 Evacuation in 10 minutes
- 🔥 Fire in the building
- 🌡️ Heatwave
- 🌪️ Storm, strong wind
- 📢 Sirens, alarm, air contamination
- 📵 No signal, no internet
- ❤️ Someone is unconscious
- 🌍 Earthquake
- ⛵ Storm at sea, no internet
- 🚗 Road accident
- ☠️ Carbon monoxide or gas leak
- ❄️ Stuck in a car in a snowstorm
- 🌩️ Thunderstorm outdoors
- 🫀 Heart attack or stroke
- 🏊 Someone is drowning
- 🌲 Forest or grass fire
- 💳 Cards and cash machines not working
- 🦠 Epidemic, dangerous infectious disease
- 🧒 A child is missing
Sources
- Polish government safety guide (MON, MSWiA, RCB, 2025)
- Government Centre for Security (Poland)
- BBK guide "Vorsorgen für Krisen und Katastrophen" (Germany)
Official sources are checked automatically every day. Last check: 2026-10-18.
General guidance only; it does not replace the emergency services. If a life is in danger, call 112.