Emergency Preparedness in Slovakia
Every second Friday of the month at noon, sirens sound for two minutes across Slovakia. It is a test of the civil protection warning system. This page explains, in English, what to do in a real alarm and who to call, for residents, students, workers and visitors.
Emergency numbers
- 112 All emergencies
- 150 Fire and rescue
- 155 Ambulance
- 158 Police
How you will be warned
Sirens
- The Ministry of the Interior tests the sirens at 12:00 on every second Friday of the month. The test lasts two minutes. Sirens are never tested at night or at weekends.
- Real warning signals differ in tone and length depending on the kind of danger. Each warning is followed by an announcement: what the danger is, where, when it starts and ends, and what to do.
When you hear a real alarm
- Seek shelter. If you are outside, go into the nearest building. If you are driving, park and find shelter, unless the warning is for a flood.
- At home, gather everyone and stay inside. Do not collect children from school: they are looked after there.
- Close windows, doors and vents, turn off air conditioning and seal gaps with tape or cloth.
- Turn on the radio or television.
- Use the phone only in an emergency. Do not call 112 to ask about the alarm.
What to have at home
Slovakia has no single national checklist with a fixed number of days. The reference is the European Union's recommendation of at least 72 hours:
- Drinking water and food that keeps
- Medicines and a first aid kit
- A battery radio, flashlight, spare batteries and power bank
- Cash and copies of documents
- Warm clothing, blankets, and tape to seal windows and doors
Work out the amounts with our kit calculator and see the 72-hour kit on a budget.
Main risks to prepare for
- Floods and storms
- Nuclear and chemical accidents
- Power outages and winter cold
- Hybrid threats and armed conflict
Words you will see and hear
- Všeobecné ohrozenie: general danger
- Ohrozenie vodou: danger from water, flood warning
- Koniec ohrozenia: end of danger
- Skúška sirén: siren test
- Civilná ochrana: civil protection
- Ukrytie: shelter
Official information
See emergency preparedness in other European countries.
Sources
Independent educational summary, not an official publication. Always follow instructions from Slovak authorities. Last reviewed: November 2026.