Alarm Signals: Your First 15 Minutes of Survival
Most of us, upon hearing the sound of a siren, instinctively look at the calendar for the date of August 1st or another anniversary, or perhaps dismiss it with a shrug, thinking of "another test." This is a dangerous habit. In an era of rising hybrid threats and an unstable geopolitical situation, recognizing alarm signals is not a relic of the Cold War, but an elementary survival competency that decides your life within the first few minutes of a real threat occurring.
1. How to recognize an air raid alarm?
A crisis doesn't always start with Hollywood explosions; it is often heralded by silence, a non-functioning terminal in a store, or a silent internet. However, when the warning system is activated, you must know how to interpret what you hear. The truth about crisis situations is brutal: gear without skills and composure is just unnecessary ballast.
The public warning and alerting system in Poland is based on a simple but precise acoustic message. You must remember two key signals:
Types of siren signals
It is worth knowing that in small towns, modulated sirens are sometimes used to summon volunteer firefighters, which in the era of disinformation and hybrid warfare can build a false sense of security ("they're probably going to a fire again") or unnecessary panic. Therefore, the signal should always be confirmed in other sources.
2. The STOP Algorithm: First Aid for Your Mind
When you hear a modulated siren sound, your biggest enemy is not a missile, but panic. People in affect make decisions that, instead of saving, bring judgment upon them. Instead of running blindly, implement the proven STOP algorithm:
- Stop: Do not make chaotic movements under crowd instinct.
- Take a breath: Take three deep breaths. Mastering emotions lowers cortisol levels, limits oxygen consumption in closed spaces, and restores the ability to think logically.
- Observe: Spend 15 seconds assessing the situation. Do you have your EDC kit with you? Where is your family?
- Proceed: Take action appropriate to the type of threat, not imaginations.
This algorithm is the foundation of your survival psychology. Remember that in the hour of trial, you don't rise to the level of your possibilities, but fall to the level of your training.
3. News Verification – Rule of Three Sources
Modern war takes place in cyberspace and the infosphere. Disinformation aims to trigger chaos, force people into panic buying or blocking roads. If you hear a siren:
- Check Phone: Look for RCB Alert or notifications in the RSO app (Regional Warning System).
- Battery Radio: The most reliable source of knowledge when the internet and GSM network fail. Look for local stations and administration announcements.
- Rule of Three Sources: Confirm the message in three independent places (e.g., siren + radio + app).
If information terrifies or infuriates you, check it twice as carefully. Proper information hygiene protects your financial security from rash decisions under the influence of fake news about closing ATMs or lack of fuel.
4. Where to Seek Shelter? 'Zero Level' and the Three-Wall Rule
When an air raid alarm is real, you usually have a few to several minutes to act. Your goal is protection against glass shards and direct impact.
Rules for Safe Hiding
Remember that having prepared supplies, such as water storage (standard 8l/person/day) and food supplies (min. 2500 kcal), allows you to stay hidden longer, without having to go out into dangerous terrain.
5. Not Just Air Raids – Other Signals and Threats
A modulated sound is a general warning. You must be ready for the specifics of other threats that require different reactions:
- CBRN Threat (chemical, biological, radiological): If the alarm concerns contamination, your priority is to seal the room (taping over ventilation grilles, windows) and protect the respiratory tract. It's worth having at least a basic gas mask.
- Active Shooter: Here we use the 4U algorithm (Understand, Undercover, Unfold, Unitize - based on Polish: Uważaj, Uciekaj, Ukryj się, Udaremnij). In this situation, you don't run to the shelter with the crowd, because you can become an easy target.
- Blackout: Long-term energy outage paralyzes the city. Your headlamp, powerbank, and battery radio then become your "eyes and ears".
6. Family Preparation and Local Cooperation
Your survival psychology depends on whether your loved ones know what to do. Lone wolves die faster – being part of a group increases survival chances by 2.5 times.
- Family Plan: Establish plan A (we meet at home), plan B (house is gone, we meet at a contact point), and plan C (evacuation outside the city). Every household member must know where their 72H evacuation backpack is.
- Neighborhood Cooperation: Find out who in your block is a doctor and who is a firefighter. In a crisis, it is neighborly cooperation that replaces inefficient state systems. Knowing your neighbors also avoids infiltration by strangers.
- Documents: Have documents and copies ready (also digital on encrypted media) to be able to quickly prove your identity during a check.
7. Training Makes Perfect
Knowing that a modulated siren lasts 60 seconds is only theory. To work under stress, it must become part of muscle memory. Twice a year, conduct "competitions" with your family: who can pack the most important things fastest and go to the basement. Check if your car kit is ready for sudden evacuation from the city and if the car is always fully fueled.
Investing in training and skills, especially in providing first aid, is the most valuable resource that no one can take from you. Remember that the civil defense system in Poland is only just being built, so your safety begins with your awareness and preparation.
Summary: Don't Wait for the Siren
Don't wait for the sound of a siren. Already take care of health prevention and knowledge about water purification. When the world around you starts to wail, your peace will be the result of the plan you implement today.
Frequently Asked Questions about Signals
helpWhat to do when I hear a siren in an open space?
Lie down on the ground, preferably in a depression, cover your head with your hands, and look for cover behind a thick wall. Avoid places with large amounts of glass.
helpIs every modulated siren sound an air raid alarm?
In Poland, yes, it is the official warning signal. However, it should always be verified in voice messages or apps (RSO, RCB Alert).
