We have a civil protection system that will help in some way, but we do not have shelters, we do not have citizens taught how to behave – said Dr. Dariusz Kała on TVN24. The expert talked about what will be changed by the Act on Civil Protection and Civil Defense, which is in force from this year. He noted that initially its impact will not be so noticeable for citizens, because the implementation of the regulations is scheduled for years.
It entered into force on January 1 Civil Protection and Civil Defense Act. The regulation will enable the creation of a civil protection system, which in the event of war can be transformed into civil defense. The government will allocate no less than 0.3% annually to implement new solutions. GDP.
Now “citizens will not feel any change”
Dr. Dariusz Kała, an expert in civil protection law, explained on TVN24 what the new law means in practice. He noted that although the act entered into force at the beginning of 2025, now “citizens will not really feel any change” because the plan to implement the act is scheduled for several years.
– The first year is really about bureaucratic, clerical, design and training activities. (…) In fact, we are currently handing over the house in a shell state, without doors, without windows, without equipment. I think we can expect that at least in six months or a year there will be a thorough amendment to this act and we will continue to implement it – explained Kała.
The Civil Defense Act in practice. The expert explainsTVN24
The expert pointed out that in Poland we have a civil protection system, and it is based mainly on the fire brigade. – In Poland, we have about a thousand incidents every day where the State Fire Service, Volunteer Fire Brigades and other services go, so we have built this civil protection system. However, we lack this third party liability component, which has not existed for many years in our legal system, in the system of such an institutional network of the state – he pointed out.
– We must prepare for this worst threat. Not for a state of emergency, some internal unrest or a natural disaster, but for a military threat, which today is bombing. First of all, we need to find shelter for people for the duration of this bombing, he continued.
As he said, the act also plans to train “managers at the local government level, i.e. commune heads and mayors” on how to behave in crisis situations.
How prepared are we? “I am a pessimist”
Kała was also asked how he assessed the current level of preparations for dangerous situations. – Unfortunately, I am a pessimist. In fact, we slept through the last dozen or so years because we believed that we were a country protected by security NATO and that war is not a reality that can occur in our country, he admitted.
– For us it's war until it breaks out war in Ukraineit was actually a fact described in history books – said the TVN24 guest.
– We are not prepared at this moment. We have a civil protection system that will help in some way, but we don't have shelters, we don't have citizens taught how to behave, said the expert.
He also pointed out that “for many years, there has been no subject in schools that would discuss issues related to crisis situations.” – If there is a person threatened on the street, we do not touch him because we are afraid to help him for fear of harming him. It is very necessary for us to start training young people and citizens so that we can help each other in the most crisis situations, he said.
The basic skills he mentioned included stopping bleeding, placing the injured in a safe position and knowing emergency numbers. – When everything goes out and there is no electricity, we stay at home and don't know what to do because the Internet goes out – noted the expert.
– We must be taught who is responsible for what, where to run and what to do in these first minutes – said Dr. Kała.
What's in the Act?
The Act, which has been in force since the beginning of this year, specifies, among others: the tasks of civil protection in peacetime and war, bodies and entities carrying out civil protection tasks, principles of planning civil protection and civil defense, principles of operation of the threat detection system and warning, notification and alerting system. on threats, principles of using and recording collective protection facilities, principles of operation and organization of civil defense and the method of appointing civil defense personnel. The Act places great emphasis on shaping public awareness and promoting appropriate behavior.
When martial law is introduced and during war, the protection of the population becomes civil defense. It will aim to protect civilians against threats resulting from hostilities and their consequences.
Main photo source: TVN24