It is not simple to imagine ourselves in situations where we must rescue somebody or we are ourselves in danger, and our reactions in an emergency situation can be altered because of inadequate personal and family preparedness or because the gravity and extent of the accident or disaster. 

In order to avoid this one must think in advance of situations caused by accidents or disasters and know the measures to be taken in an emergency situation. These situations are presented here together with the primary actions to take. 

One can distinguish:

• Natural disasters : they are caused by natural phenomena, they are hazardous, can be more or less forecasted, depending on their typology : floods, storms, avalanches, forest fires, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tornados, hurricanes, tsunamis…
• Industrial / technological accidents : they are involuntary (can result out of negligence, usage), they can be largely anticipated, because they can be avoided : industrial risk (chemical, oil – related, nuclear), transport of Hazardous Materials, dam failures…
• Terrorist acts : they are acts on purpose, very difficult to anticipate.

In each of these categories, one can find NRBC (nuclear, biological or chemical) risks or threats.

Click here for more information. 

The behaviour to follow in case of NRBC risk or accident is based on specific rules which one should know. To find out more, click on chemical risk, biological risk, radiological risk and terrorist act icons.