As part of the annual prevention and awareness program regarding various hazards—established by the General Directorate of Civil Protection (specifically its Prevention Directorate)—and coinciding with the onset of winter, a season marked by a rise in certain domestic accidents (particularly carbon monoxide poisoning and asphyxiation, as well as flood and flash-flood risks), a national awareness and prevention campaign is being organized. This campaign aims to raise risk awareness and instill preventive behaviors among citizens.
The campaign addresses the increased use of heating appliances during winter and the risks associated with their improper use or a lack of safety measures—specifically the danger of carbon monoxide leaks. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, and toxic gas; exposure to it can cause poisoning and asphyxiation requiring emergency medical intervention, and in some cases, the consequences can be fatal.
In this context, the Civil Protection service is launching a national campaign to prevent winter-related hazards across the entire country, starting on October 6, 2026, with the official launch event taking place in the province of Tissemsilt.
Civil Protection intervention data underscores the importance of continuing and intensifying preventive efforts in this area; in 2025 alone, a total of 473 interventions were recorded regarding carbon monoxide asphyxiation, resulting in the rescue and treatment of 1,495 people and the recording of 130 fatalities. During the first nine months of 2026, 238 interventions were recorded, resulting in the rescue and medical assistance of 712 people, while 81 fatalities occurred due to asphyxiation from this toxic gas.
In most cases, these incidents are linked to a failure to observe safety regulations—specifically, a lack of adequate indoor ventilation, the use of old or dilapidated heating appliances that have not undergone periodic maintenance, and improper installation or operation by unqualified individuals.
Furthermore, the risk of flooding and flash floods is a major hazard requiring heightened vigilance during the winter season. This is particularly critical given the volatile weather and extreme meteorological phenomena that can cause rising water levels and flash floods, thereby threatening the safety of people and property and resulting in significant material, environmental, and economic damage.
An analysis of flood-related statistics shows that Civil Protection operational units carried out a total of 460 interventions in 2025, rescuing 355 people and recording 17 fatalities.
During the first seven months of 2026, 664 interventions were recorded, resulting in the rescue of 14 people and 7 fatalities. Many of these incidents stem from avoidable behaviors, such as underestimating the danger of the situation, failing to adhere to safety guidelines, ignoring weather bulletins and warnings, and attempting to cross valleys and watercourses—either on foot or in vehicles—as well as seeking shelter under bridges or inside tunnels when water levels rise.
Driven by the firm conviction that prevention begins with awareness and is reinforced by responsible behavior, Civil Protection adopts a comprehensive approach to fostering a culture of prevention and raising risk awareness across all segments of society. This is achieved through an integrated communication and outreach plan, implemented in coordination with various sectors, agencies, and relevant partners.
This coordination specifically involves sectors such as Trade, National Education, Health, Religious Affairs and Endowments, Vocational Training and Education, Water Resources, Public Works, Housing, and Higher Education and Scientific Research. It also engages entities like Naftal and the electricity and gas distribution company, alongside local authorities, civil society organizations, and security services.
The campaign program includes organizing open days for the public and deploying outreach convoys to residential areas that have recently gained access to the municipal gas network. It also entails field operations to inspect and assess heating appliances in coordination with relevant partners, as well as intensified awareness-raising activities within educational institutions at all levels, mosques, vocational training centers, and universities. National media outlets and various social media platforms will also be engaged to intensify the dissemination of preventive messages and reach the widest possible segment of the population. The focus will be on the correct behaviors to adopt in order to prevent the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning, floods, and flash floods.
Running throughout the autumn and winter seasons, this campaign aims to foster a culture of prevention among citizens, raise awareness of the risks associated with this period, and instill safe practices that enable individuals to protect themselves and their families, thereby helping to reduce the human and material losses resulting from such incidents.
In this context, the Civil Protection urges all citizens to remain vigilant, adhere to safety measures, and follow the preventive guidelines and advice issued by the competent authorities. It also calls upon associations and civil society groups to actively contribute to the success of this awareness-raising program by cooperating with Civil Protection services and engaging with units deployed across the country to benefit from the various preventive activities and programs.
