Sweden Emergency Guide: VMA, Sirens, Numbers

Emergency Preparedness in Sweden

Sweden has rebuilt its civil defence in recent years and sent every household the brochure "In case of crisis or war". Its system of public warnings, known as VMA, is one of the clearest in Europe, with four different siren signals. This page explains in English who to call, what each signal means and what the authorities expect households to be able to do.

Emergency numbers

112 All emergencies: police, ambulance, fire and rescue
113 13 National information number during accidents and crises
114 14 Police, non-urgent
1177 Healthcare advice

How you will be warned

VMA: Important public announcement

A VMA (Viktigt meddelande till allmänheten) is issued for serious incidents, for example a fire with toxic smoke.
It is broadcast on Sveriges Radio P4, on SVT and other television channels, and published on Krisinformation.se.
It can be sent as a text message to mobile phones in the affected area, and through the Krisinformation, SOS Alarm, Sveriges Radio and SVT apps.
For very serious events, the outdoor sirens are used as well.

The four siren signals

The outdoor warning system, nicknamed "Hesa Fredrik" (Hoarse Fredrik), has about 4,500 horns on rooftops and tall buildings.

Important public announcement: 7 seconds of sound, 14 seconds of silence, repeated for 2 minutes. Go indoors, close windows, doors and ventilation, and listen to Sveriges Radio P4.
Emergency alarm (highest alert): 30 seconds of sound, 15 seconds of silence, repeated for 5 minutes. The whole country is on the highest state of alert. Go indoors and listen to P4.
Air raid warning: short bursts for 1 minute. Take cover immediately in the nearest shelter, cellar or other protected place, preferably a room without windows.
All clear: one long, unbroken signal for 30 seconds.

Tests

The important public announcement signal is tested at 15:00 on the first Monday that is not a public holiday in March, June, September and December.

What the authorities ask you to be able to do

The brochure "In case of crisis or war" asks households to prepare to manage on their own for about one week. It groups home preparedness around four needs:

Water: stored drinking water, and cans to collect more
Food: food that keeps at room temperature and needs little water or cooking
Warmth: warm clothes, blankets and an alternative heat source
Communication: a battery, crank or solar radio, a power bank, important numbers on paper, and cash

Work out the amounts for your household with our kit calculator and see the home kit for 7 days.

The brochure also states that if Sweden is attacked, it will never surrender, and that any information to the effect that resistance is to cease is false. See Disinformation in a crisis.

Shelters

Civil defence shelters (skyddsrum) are marked with a sign showing a blue triangle on an orange square.
The civil defence agency publishes a map of shelters. Shelters are not assigned to individuals: you go to the nearest one.
If there is no shelter nearby, a cellar or an inner room without windows gives the best protection.