Short answer. The Polish government's 2025 Safety Guide (Poradnik bezpieczeństwa) asks every household to keep home supplies for at least 3 days, including at least 3 litres of drinking water per person per day, and to check them every few months 1. It also asks for a separate evacuation backpack for each member of the household 1.
What does the Polish government recommend?
The reference document is the Poradnik bezpieczeństwa (Safety Guide), publication no. 1/2025, published by the Government of the Republic of Poland 1. Its headline instruction is "ZAPASY DOMOWE NA MINIMUM 3 DNI": home supplies for a minimum of 3 days 1. The guide covers home supplies, evacuation, shelters, alarm signals, blackouts, air attack, CBRN threats and first aid 1.
Copies are being posted to every household by Poczta Polska. Distribution began on 22 December 2025, with about 17 million copies announced to reach every home by the end of January 2026 2. A Braille edition exists, and versions in other languages can be downloaded online 1.
What should the 3-day home supply contain?
| Item | Quantity in the guide |
|---|---|
| Drinking water | At least 3 litres per person per day 1 |
| Ready-to-eat food (e.g. tinned food, crackers, bars) | For at least 3 days 1 |
| First-aid kit and medicines | Not specified 1 |
| Cleaning and personal hygiene products | Not specified 1 |
| Lighting and communication | Not specified 1 |
| Blankets, sleeping bags, warm clothing | Not specified 1 |
| Cash in various denominations | Not specified 1 |
| Tools: tape, plastic sheeting, sealing kits | Not specified 1 |
| Alternative heating that does not run on electricity | Not specified 1 |
The full item-by-item list, including what goes in the first-aid kit, is on our Poland kit checklist page.
For 3 days, the water figure works out to at least 9 litres per person. For more on how water needs are calculated, see how much water to store per person.
What goes in the evacuation backpack?
The guide lists a separate backpack for each household member 1:
- Bottled water; water filters or purification tablets
- First-aid kit, personal medicines, hygiene and disinfection products
- Documents, copies on a USB stick, cash in various denominations
- Battery or crank torch and radio, charged phone and power bank, charger, cables, spare batteries
- Seasonal clothing, rainwear, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, thermal blanket
- Alternative communication (e.g. walkie-talkie)
- High-energy ready-to-eat food (energy bars, dried fruit, nuts)
- An important personal item (e.g. photo, family keepsake)
- Pocket knife or multitool, lighter, rubbish bags, printed maps
How often should supplies be checked?
The guide asks households to check their supplies every few months 1. Food and water that are close to their dates can be used and replaced. Our guide on emergency food shelf life and rotation explains one way to do this.
Where do supplies fit in a wider plan?
Supplies are one part of what the Safety Guide covers. The same guide explains alarm signals and where to find shelter 1. See our Poland pages on alerts, public shelters and emergency contacts. If someone in your home takes daily medication, or you care for children, seniors or animals, see vulnerable people and pets, and write it all down in a family emergency plan.
Frequently asked questions
How many days of supplies does Poland recommend?
At least 3 days 1. The guide's heading reads "ZAPASY DOMOWE NA MINIMUM 3 DNI" (home supplies for a minimum of 3 days) 1.
How much water per person does the Polish guide recommend?
At least 3 litres of drinking water per person per day 1. For a 3-day supply, that is at least 9 litres per person.
Did every household in Poland receive the Safety Guide?
The government posted it to all households through Poczta Polska, starting on 22 December 2025, with about 17 million copies announced to reach every home by the end of January 2026 2. It is also available online at poradnikbezpieczenstwa.gov.pl 1.
Is the guide available in languages other than Polish?
Yes. A Braille edition exists, and other language versions can be downloaded from the official site 1.
Sources
- Rząd Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej (publication 1/2025, ISBN 978-83-976775-0-0) — Poradnik bezpieczeństwa — https://poradnikbezpieczenstwa.gov.pl/ (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Ministerstwo Spraw Wewnętrznych i Administracji — Ruszył kolportaż Poradnika Bezpieczeństwa, kolejne inwestycje w zabezpieczenie granicy oraz mapa punktów schronienia dla ludności - podsumowanie czwartego tygodnia grudnia w MSWiA — https://www.gov.pl/web/mswia/ruszyl-kolportaz-poradnika-bezpieczenstwa-kolejne-inwestycje-w-zabezpieczenie-granicy-oraz-mapa-punktow-schronienia-dla-ludnosci--podsumowanie-czwartego-tygodnia-grudnia-w-mswia (accessed 2026-10-20)
Turn this into action
Your plan for Poland, worked out for your household.
- Water, food and equipment counted for each person and pet
- The nuclear plants and zones around your home
- Phaenyx Safe: one tap to tell your people you are safe
Sources
- Rząd Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej (publication 1/2025, ISBN 978-83-976775-0-0) · Poradnik bezpieczeństwa checked 2026-10-20
- Ministerstwo Spraw Wewnętrznych i Administracji · Ruszył kolportaż Poradnika Bezpieczeństwa, kolejne inwestycje w zabezpieczenie granicy oraz mapa punktów schronienia dla ludności - podsumowanie czwartego tygodnia grudnia w MSWiA checked 2026-10-20