The five wildest things the EU says you urgently need in your WW3 survival kit

All UK households have officially been urged to prep a three-day survival kit in case of WW3, with the EU warning that the threats facing Europe are “more complex than ever”. The advice is part of a continent-wide strategy for citizens to be ready to survive on their own for 72 hours, should disaster strike.

EU crisis management commissioner Hadja Lahbib said: “Today’s threats facing Europe are more complex than ever, and they are all interconnected. Knowing what to do in case of danger and gaming out different scenarios is a way to prevent people from panicking.”

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The thinking is simple: If the worst happens, whether that’s a cyberattack, blackout, or even military conflict, people will already have what they need at home and won’t rush to empty supermarket shelves like during the pandemic’s infamous toilet roll panic. Lahbib added: “We are saying to member states: 72 hours of self-sufficiency is what we recommend.”

Of course, obvious things like bottled water, torches, and first aid kits are included on the list. But some of the less predictable suggestions are the ones really making people take notice.

So, aside from the usual items like energy bars, matches, and painkillers, here are five of the most surprising things to stash in your emergency kit.

1. Playing cards

Apparently, cabin fever is just as much of a threat as dehydration. The EU says a deck of cards will keep morale up, distract you from panic, and give you something to do if you’re hunkered down for three days.

2. Cash

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Forget Apple Pay – if the power grid collapses or ATMs go offline, digital payments won’t save you. Keeping small notes and coins could be essential to buying supplies.

3. A Swiss army knife

Not just for camping trips – multi-tools can help with cooking, opening tins, repairing broken gear, and even building makeshift shelter.

4. A battery-powered radio

No, not Spotify. An old-school radio that runs without WiFi could be the only way to access emergency broadcasts if internet and phone networks go down.

5. Iodine tablets

Some countries are going even further. Norway’s official advice is for households to stock iodine tablets to reduce the impact of radiation exposure in the event of a nuclear incident.

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The EU strategy was partly inspired by Nordic nations like Sweden and Norway, who already advise citizens to stockpile food, blankets, and alternative heating. Germany is urging households to adapt basements into makeshift bunkers, and Poland has gone so far as to legally require new homes to be built with shelters.

So yes – first aid kits and bottled water are still important. But in a crisis where panic can be just as dangerous as the threat itself, it might be the deck of cards or that forgotten radio in the loft that make all the difference in your WW3 survival kit.

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Featured image credit: Canva