Chemical incident or attack: what to do (shelter, decontaminate)

Chemical incident: what to do, step by step

⏱ 2 min read

A chemical leak, chemical fire or attack. 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.

Open in the app (works offline)

First, right now

Outdoors: cover your mouth and nose with clothing and leave the area as fast as you can, moving upwind or across the wind from the cloud.
Indoors: close windows and doors, turn off ventilation and air conditioning, close stove and fireplace dampers.
Follow official alerts, local radio and TV. Do what the emergency services tell you.

Then

Seal gaps around windows and doors with tape, wet towels or blankets. Go to an interior room higher up if you can, as many gases are heavier than air.
If you feel fumes coming in, breathe shallowly through damp cloth.
In a car, close the windows, switch off the fan and drive out of the danger zone.
When you come in from outside, take off your clothes and seal them in a bag. Wash your hands, then your face, then shower. Put on clean clothes.
Don't touch your mouth or eyes before washing your hands. Don't eat food that may be contaminated.
If you shelter indoors, be ready to stay several hours in the sealed room: water, radio, medicines.

When to call 112

You have breathing problems, burning eyes or skin, coughing or nausea after contact with fumes, or you see a leak or people suddenly collapsing.

What not to do

Don't go near the leak to see what happened, and never sniff suspicious substances.
Don't leave the building on your own if authorities tell you to stay inside.
Don't call emergency lines without need; keep them free.

Frequently asked questions

What should I do in a chemical emergency at home?

Close and seal windows and doors, turn off ventilation and air conditioning and close dampers. Follow official alerts and instructions.

How do I decontaminate after chemical exposure?

Remove your clothes and seal them in a bag, wash your hands, then your face, shower and put on clean clothes.

Should I leave or stay inside?

If authorities say shelter in place, stay in a sealed building, where fume levels are lower. If they order evacuation, leave at once.

Keep it on your phone

SurvivalZone.app 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.

Open SurvivalZone.app

Thank you for reading. If this could help someone, send it to the people you care about. Getting ready takes a moment, and in a crisis every minute counts.

Coming soon: the app’s permanent address will be survivalzone.app.

Other scenarios

Sources

Official sources are checked automatically every day. Last check: 2026-11-04.

General guidance only; it does not replace the emergency services. If a life is in danger, call 112.